MEPs reject vice president nomination, could trigger reshuffle of portfolios

MEPs last night voted in favour of rejecting Alenka Bratušek as Jean-Claude Junker's vice president.

The European Parliament’s environment and energy committees at a joint meeting voted overwhelmingly (112-13) to reject Bratušek, whom Juncker had named as vice-president for energy union.

Bratušek, a former prime minister of Slovenia, gave a poor performance on Monday at her confirmation hearing, appearing unfamiliar with the EU's energy issues. She was also evasive on the ethical concerns of putting herself forward for the commissioner position in July, while she was only a caretaker prime minister, having been defeated in elections in May.

Although the committee vote acts as a recommendation, such strong disapproval means that Bratušek is unlikely to keep the position. Also unlikely is that a vote on the entire college, unchanged, will now be put to the Parliament on 22 October.

MEPs had already declared that Tibor Navracsics, Hungary’s nominee for commissioner who was assigned the portfolio of education, youth, culture and citizenship, should not be given responsibility for citizenship.

if Juncker decides to withdraw and modify his proposed line-up, a new nominee from Slovenia would first have to be approved by the Council of Ministers before being put to the Parliament. This means that although a final vote by 22 October would be possible, this would depend on how much time nominees required to prepare.