FranceLink

EU Commission : France and Germany differ on Brussels' top job

Angela Merkel wants centre-right candidate Manfred Weber as next EU Commission president but Emmanuel Macron favours other candidates.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

To support Mediapart subscribe

France and Germany have disagreed on who should take one of the EU's key roles as leaders from the bloc met following parliamentary elections, reports the BBC.

It saw the big centrist blocs lose their majorities – with liberals, the Greens and nationalists gaining ground.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants centre-right candidate Manfred Weber as the next EU Commission president.

But French President Emmanuel Macron did not even mention Mr Weber as a contender for the influential position.

Their comments came at a meeting on Tuesday in Brussels, which was a chance for EU leaders to discuss the new political landscape and who might take over the top jobs.

The elections left the EU more fragmented with the chances of reaching consensus more difficult.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said Brexit was a factor behind a majority of voters favouring pro-EU parties.

Read more of this report from the BBC.