Juggling Commissioners and portfolios continues as Juncker takes over the EU Commission.<\/p>\n
European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed he wants Slovakia\u2019s Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d to be his Vice-President for Energy Union, replacing Slovenia\u2019s Alenka Bratu\u0161ek, who quit after being rejected by MEPs.\u00a0 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d was originally pencilled in as Juncker\u2019s Transport Commissioner, a role that now goes to Violeta Bulc, Bratu\u0161ek’s replacement as Slovenia’s candidate Commissioner.<\/p>\n
Bulc, 50-year-old telecoms entrepreneur who joined the new government in Ljubljana only last month, replaced Bratu\u0161ek after a humiliating vote last week\u00a0 112 MEPs sitting in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Environment Committee judged Bratu\u0161ek unfit for the job. Only 13 votes were cast in her favour, after her confirmation hearing. Among other things, former prime minister Bratu\u0161ek was criticised for having nominated herself.<\/p>\n
For \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d and for the Socialists and Democrats, with whom he is affiliated, the move seems to be a major victory. \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d is a Commission Vice-President at present, responsible for interinstitutional relations and administration, and his assigned transport portfolio was largely seen as a disappointment.\u00a0 Juncker issued a new mission letter to \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d, in which he assigns him oversight of the transport commissioner, which means that Bulc would be subordinated to him. The move is seen as an appeasement move to the parliament’s committee responsible for transport, which reportedly isn\u2019t happy about Bulc getting the respective portfolio.<\/p>\n
In his mission letter to Bulc, Juncker makes no mention of space. Sarcastic comments in social media suggest that Juncker doesn’t want to assign the cosmos to someone who may fraternise with aliens.<\/p>\n
Bulc\u2019s colourful list of interests, ranging from her youthful prowess in basketball, and a black bein tae kwon do, to her training as a shaman, and promotion of fire-walking in her consultancy business, has attracted attention in Brussels.<\/p>\n
It is believed that the reshuffle would obtain the support of the three major political groups in the European Parliament. For the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP), it is important that their \u2018Spitzenkandidat\u2019 Juncker starts work as Commission President without further hurdles. The Socialists would be happy to have a second Vice-President, in addition to Federica Mogherini. The liberals would be happy if they can retain Bratu\u0161ek\u2019s seat for Bulc, another liberal.<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Juggling Commissioners and portfolios continues as Juncker takes over the EU Commission. European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed he wants Slovakia\u2019s Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d to be his Vice-President for Energy Union, replacing Slovenia\u2019s Alenka Bratu\u0161ek, who quit after being rejected by … Continue reading ![\"Juncker](\"http:\/\/www.w-t-w.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Juncker-Juggles-190x300.jpg\")
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