EU Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen Faces Scrutiny over Controversial Appointment of German MEP to High-Paying Post

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has been facing mounting challenges as a result of a controversial appointment scandal involving one of her own party’s representatives. The Commission appointed Mark Pieper, a German MEP and Ambassador for SMEs, to a high-paying EU post. However, reports suggest that Pieper was promoted over more qualified candidates and that his appointment was influenced by von der Leyen’s political affiliations.

The controversy surrounding Pieper’s appointment prompted intervention from high-ranking EU officials including Joseph Borrell, the EU’s foreign and security policy representative, and Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton. Commissioners Schmit and Gentiloni also demanded an explanation from von der Leyen regarding the fairness of the appointment process. A formal complaint was lodged by Martina Dlabajová, a Czech ambassador for SMEs from the Renew group further complicating the situation.

Pieper resigned just hours before he was set to start his new role citing opposition from Commissioner Breton as a reason for his resignation, accusing Breton of playing politics. The Commission expressed regret over Pieper’s decision and announced that the process for selecting a new SME ambassador would begin after the European parliamentary elections.

Von der Leyen faces mounting challenges as she navigates through the fallout from Pieper’s appointment. The Parliament passed a resolution demanding transparency in the selection process for the SME ambassador role adding to