Juncker's 'weakest' links leave cracks in next commission

The European Parliament declined on Monday to back the appointment of Hungary’s Tibor Navracsics as the next EU education and culture commissioner.

Lawmakers pointed to a restrictive media law adopted when Navracsics served in Viktor Orban’s government as a key reason why he should not take the job.

Parliamentary committees cannot block the appointment of an individual commissioner per se, but they can recommend that Jean-Claude Juncker, the next European Commission president, reshuffles his team.

Former Slovenian prime minister Alenka Bratušek also came under fire; she drew the ire of MPs at home when she put her own name on her country’s shortlist before stepping down.

It was at a time when EU officials were struggling to come up with enough female candidates.

Bratušek has been nominated to become the next EU energy commissioner.

‘We sent a list of names, a choice. this short-list consisted of 3 names, including mine. and the final decision was made by President Juncker,’ she said, rebuffing the accusations against her.

The European Parliament can decide to accept or reject the next Commission as whole. That vote is scheduled to take place on October the 22nd.