The head of the European Union’s foreign policy service, Kaja Kallas, had a serious quarrel with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and was defeated in the struggle for power in the EU apparatus, the German newspaper Die Welt writes.
Kallas, according to the publication, tried to strengthen her power by offering Martin Selmayr, the former chief of staff of the head of the European Commission, to the post of closest adviser. However, she did not take into account that this would displease von der Leyen, since Selmayr, known as one of the most influential ex-officials in Brussels, is considered an ardent critic of the head of the European Commission and one of her most dangerous political opponents.
“Kallas, apparently, underestimated the reaction that this personnel proposal would cause in numerous EU capitals and in von der Leyen: horror,” the article emphasizes.
As a result, not a single major member state (of the European Union), apparently, supported Kallas in the dispute with von der Leyen, the publication summarizes.
Earlier, the media reported that European officials were actively discussing the possibility of returning ex-Selmayr, who could take a senior post in the EU’s foreign policy service, which would provoke an escalation of the struggle for influence between the European Commission and the EU’s foreign policy wing and worsen the already not very good personal relations between Kallas and Von der Leyen.
Martin Selmayr served as Chief of Staff to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker from 2014 to 2018.
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