Cañete safe after EPP-Socialist deal but Bratušek is out

(EurActiv, 8 Oct 2014) Alenka Bratušek, the Slovenian candidate for a senior Energy Union Vice-President role in the new Juncker Commission, was tonight (8 October) overwhelmingly rejected by the European Parliament, on a night MEPs also controversially backed Miguel Cañete as Climate and Energy Commissioner.

Bratušek, former prime minister of Slovenia, was judged unfit for the job by the MEPs sitting in the Industry, Research and Energy Committee and the Environment Committee. Only 13 votes were cast in Bratušek’s favour with 112 against.

Slovenia must now nominate a new Commissioner candidate and Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker may have to reshuffle the portfolios of his new team.

As EurActiv reported earlier today , the Socialists and Democrats group decided to back Cañete in exchange for the support of his European People’s Party (EPP) for French Socialist Pierre Moscovici. The former French finance minister, who was nominated for the Economic and Monetary Affairs portfolio, was later comfortably backed by MEPs.

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EurActiv, 8 Oct 2014: Cañete safe after EPP-Socialist deal but Bratušek is out