Belgium, the last European Union (EU) country to announce its choice, on Monday designated Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib as its candidate for the post of European Commissioner, the Belga news agency reported on Tuesday.
According to Belga, the choice of Hadja Lahbib, 54, was made to the detriment of Didier Reynders, the French-speaking liberal who was the outgoing Belgian Commissioner, in office since 2019.
It was up to the French-speaking liberal party (the Reform Movement, MR) to propose one of its figures, as part of arrangements between the different parties currently negotiating the formation of the future government.
MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez wanted “a new face,” a party spokesperson said.
He stressed that Hadja Lahbib had “more than proven herself” during the Belgian presidency of the EU in the first half of 2024, which qualified her in the eyes of his party for European functions.
Following this proposal, the future college of 27 European commissioners (one per Member State) could include ten women, including Ursula vonder Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Estonian Kaja Kallas, future head of EU diplomacy.
The appointment of the future college of commissioners will have to be validated by a vote of the European Parliament, after each has defended their skills during hearings before MEPs that should be held in October, according to Belga.
This article is originally published on al24news.com
