Paris (AFP)

Two weeks after the rejection of Sylvie Goulard, Emmanuel Macron on Thursday proposed Thierry Breton, 64, current CEO of the Atos group and former Minister of the Economy, as a new French member of the European Commission, announced the Elysee Thursday.

The Head of State and the President of the future Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, "have agreed on this profile after an upstream discussion.If we propose this candidate, it is appropriate," comments the Elysée.

The main challenge for Paris, the vast portfolio obtained for the French Commissioner - industrial policy, internal market, digital, defense and space - will remain unchanged. Emmanuel Macron has obtained the assurance of Ursula von der Leyen, said the presidency.

"What matters to me is the wallet! I fought for a wallet," exclaimed the Head of State, learning with annoyance the eviction of Sylvie Goulard October 10, lived as a snub inflicted by the European Parliament.

With his career that mixes public, private and political, as well as his knowledge of the industry, this friend Jacques Chirac ticks many boxes.

"Thierry Breton has strong skills in the areas covered by this portfolio, especially industry and digital, because he was Minister of the Economy (under Jacques Chirac) between 2005 and 2007, with supervision over the industry. He has also been CEO of major industrial groups and the defense sector (Thomson, France Telecom, Atos) and enjoys a solid reputation as a man of action, "says the presidency.

It is he who, called at the head of France Telecom heavily indebted, had recovered the group by reducing its costs and had led to its privatization.

He is also Macron-compatible, "aligned" with the positions of the Head of State. He had rallied to his candidacy before the first round, after the withdrawal of Alain Juppé.

"He is also a convinced European, who has led many Franco-German projects," adds the Elysee Palace, particularly at the head of Atos, which has one seat in France and one in Munich. Thierry Breton is a strong advocate for the development in Europe of supercomputers capable of competing with China and the United States.

As a bonus, he knows Ursula von der Leyen, with whom he worked when she was German Defense Minister, on the creation of a European Defense and Security Fund, to boost European investment in these areas.

- Risks -

To give time to France, but also to Romania and Hungary, whose candidates for the Commission were also rejected, to propose new names, the new Commission's inauguration was postponed for a month, December 1st.

Emmanuel Macron did not wait until the last moment to decide, after having passed numerous names in review: the negotiator Brexit Michel Barnier to his adviser Europe Clément Beaune, through the Minister of Armies Florence Parly, the chief economist of Laurence Boone or ECB Executive Board member Benoît Coeuré. Parity requires, the Elysee would have preferred a woman but did not find the right profile.

On the other hand, choosing a big boss as a candidate for the Commission increases the risk of conflicts of interest, especially since the Atos group is an IT service provider in the European Union. Thursday morning, several politicians, MEP EELV Yannick Jadot Republican MP Julien Aubert, pointed this risk.

Thierry Breton had already had to answer many questions on this subject when he was appointed to Bercy, after having managed France Telecom and Thomson. He had then made sure that the files affecting these companies were treated directly by the Prime Minister.

By the end of November, the candidate will have to convince MEPs concerned about transparency.

© 2019 AFP