23/08/24 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 22 August, René Repasi MEP (S&D, Germany) criticised on X the decision by Luxembourg’s Christian Democrat government not to appoint Nicolas Schmit, the former candidate to head the list of European Social Democrats, as European Commissioner, in favour of Christophe Hansen (see EUROPE 13466/1). In his view, this decision undermines the ‘Spitzenkandidat’ process, which was respected in 2024 with the re-election of EPP candidate Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission, thanks in particular to the votes of the Socialists in the European Parliament. Mr Repasi also mentions that in 2019, the Liberal Mark Rutte appointed the Socialist Frans Timmermans to the Commission, even though the Socialists were not part of the Dutch coalition government that he led. (MB)