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The new President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen is at the center of a controversy even before taking office on 1 November. This is because of the portfolio of Migrations and Protection of the " European way of life ", to which the Greek Margaritis Schinas was named. An amalgam that goes wrong, even for his predecessor, Jean Claude Juncker.
Jean-Claude Juncker did not take gloves with the one who must succeed him , even if it comes from his own political family: " It is part of our European way of life to accept those who come from elsewhere ", he insisted in an interview with the television channel Euronews . Although he did not explicitly criticize Ursula von der Leyen, she will have understood this call to order.
All are calling for the abandonment of the title
Especially since it is far from being the only one to question the appointment of the Greek Margaritis Schinas as vice-president, charged with " protecting our European way of life ". This is a portfolio that includes the burning issue of migration.
Rare fact: Socialists, Liberals and Greens, the three main rival groups of the European Parliament, all call in unison the abandonment of this title, accused by some of being inspired by " the rhetoric of the far right " - dangerous and populist.
Thorn in the foot
A real thorn in the foot of Ursula von der Leyen, which will have to justify itself in the Strasbourg Parliament during the hearings of the new commissioners, from late September. It is very risky: MEPs could not soften the new EU executive.