Nineteen out of twenty Commissioners approved by the EP. The Hungarian Várhelyi suspended

From the 4th until the 7th of November, twenty hearings took place in the rooms of the European Parliament. Over these Commissioner-designated meetings, just one of them has been suspended: the Hungarian candidate Olivér Várhelyi.

Four days of hearings

The European Parliament gave green light for 19 of the 20 Commissioners designated to take over the next mandate of the European Commission. Some hearings among the latest ones (Marta Kos, Hadja Lahbib, Jessika Roswall) have revealed complex political dynamics and a shifting landscape of alliances. The process has, as a matter of fact, largely moved forward with a surprising level of collaboration among the political groups that supported Ursula von der Leyen in her reconfirmation at the helm of the EU Executive, namely the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), the Liberals (Renew Europe), and the Greens. Even the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which previously opposed the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as president of the Commission, have aligned with the majority on most candidates, signaling a significant political shift.

Everyone passed the exam but Olivér Várhelyi, the candidate for EU health and animal welfare. His hearing and his belonging to the Fidesz political group made the Socialists, the Greens and The Left turn up their noses and they opposed Várhelyi’s nomination. The evaluation meeting on Varhelyi competences has been postponed at a date to be determined, as has also happened to the six designated Vice-presidents.

Last week, the decision on Belgium’s Hadja Lahbib was delayed due to the weak performance of Jessika Roswall. Ultimately, approval for both Lahbib and Roswall was secured as part of a negotiated deal between the EPP, Renew Europe, and the Socialists & Democrats. m

The ECR’s recent support for the majority-backed candidates marks a departure from their previous stance. Historically more aligned with far-right and Euroskeptic factions, the ECR’s shift appears aimed at increasing its influence within the European institutions. This repositioning indicates their desire to participate actively in the legislative process rather than remaining sidelined as an opposition group. A primary motive for this shift is to protect their own high-profile candidate, Raffaele Fitto, who has been proposed by Italy and Von der Leyen executive Vice-president of the European Commission with responsibility for Reforms and Cohesion. Fitto’s candidacy, however, faces opposition due to his association with Fratelli d’Italia, a party that did not support von der Leyen’s confirmation.

What will happen to the six commissioners left

EPP, S&D and Renew agreed to postpone also the evaluation of the six vice presidents involved in the hearings after the national delegation Partido popular appeal to its group to reject vice-president for Clean Transition Teresa Ribera. The S&D responded with a veto on ECR-affiliated Raffaele Fitto, designates as vice-president for Reforms and Cohesion policy. If the political groups fail to reach the required two-thirds majority for Ribera and Fitto and the other vice presidents, the decision will move to a simple majority vote, increasing the uncertainty.

This intricate web of negotiations reflects a broader trend of fluid alliances and tactical voting within the European Parliament, signaling a period of heightened political maneuvering as parties jostle for influence ahead of the next European elections in 2024.