Frans Timmermans, the European Commission’s executive vice-president in charge of the European Green Deal, who first took office at the Commission in 2014 (see EUROPE 11152/1), is preparing to leave his post to stand in the forthcoming Dutch parliamentary elections, scheduled for 22 November.
These early elections are being held to elect a new parliament following the collapse of Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s coalition with the liberal VVD party following a dispute over asylum policies.
In an interview with Dutch public broadcaster NOS on Thursday 20 July, Mr Timmermans set out his desire to lead a joint list between the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA) and the Green Left, GroenLinks.
“I have informed the parties of my intention to be the leading candidate on their electoral list”, he declared with a view to becoming Prime Minister, confirming a report revealed in the morning by de Volkskrant.
According to the Dutch daily, “this key figure in the fight against climate change”, as CEO of the European Climate Foundation Laurence Tubiana described him to EUROPE, has already informed Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of his imminent departure.
When questioned on the subject, Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta, while remaining evasive, explained to the press the procedure to be followed if a commissioner were to take part in national elections: he or she would have to “take leave on personal grounds”, in which case “a replacement from the same country would have to be appointed”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)