It's not just a failure for Emmanuel Macron. The refusal of the European Parliament to validate the candidacy of the French Sylvie Goulard for a post of European Commissioner also represents "a major institutional crisis for Europe," said Friday, October 11 the French Secretary of State for European Affairs.
"It is primarily a major institutional crisis for Europe because without a French commissioner, the commission can not get under way," said Amelie de Montchalin on France inter.
"We need to resolve it calmly, without anger, but we need [the president of the new commission] Ursula von der Leyen tell us what she wants from France," she added.
After this bitter setback for President Emmanuel Macron, the French press on Friday referred to "a snub", "a slap" and a "cold shower" for a president who pays his "arrogance".
The latter expressed Thursday his incomprehension at the rejection for ethical reasons of the candidacy of Sylvie Goulard and called for "explanations" of Ursula von der Leyen.
"A Parliament is not a court"
The German leader had chosen the former French minister despite the warnings, while Sylvie Goulard is under a judicial investigation in France that led her to resign from the government.
"Sylvie Goulard has appeared before three committees, she has been auditioned for six hours, in particular by the Committee on Legal Affairs, which has the mission to look into whether there are any conflicts of interest. conflicts of interest, "argued the Secretary of State for European Affairs.
"I have great respect for the Parliament, but a parliament is not a court where we judge cases that are not judged by the courts of justice," she insisted.
"With the president, with Ursula von der Leyen, we have a duty today is to resolve this crisis, to provide quick answers," she concluded.
The French president, for whom Europe is a priority, wants above all to save the mandate promised to Mrs Goulard for France, a vast portfolio of the Internal Market, including industrial policy, digital, defense and space.
It relies on this lever to revive an industrial policy of major European projects, after two years during which its attempts to revive have stomped, in a divided Europe.
With AFP