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Bratusek withdraws candidacy

Timothy JonesOctober 9, 2014

Slovenia's Alenka Bratusek has withdrawn her candidacy for a post on the European Commission. The move should pave the way for the finalization of the Commission's line-up.

https://p.dw.com/p/1DSlC
Former Slovenian PM Alenka Bratusek during a hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, 06 October 2014. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Oliver Hoslet

Former Slovenian Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek on Thursday withdrew her candidacy for the post of vice president for energy on the European Union's executive body after being rejected by EU lawmakers the day before.

In a statement, the president-elect of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Bratusek's decision to back out of the race would facilitate the process of gaining parliamentary approval of the new line-up for the body, which is due to start its work on November 1.

"Her decision reflects her commitment to the European Union, to Slovenia and to the democratic process. With her decision, she is helping me to finalize the composition of the European Commission," Juncker said in a statement.

Bratusek was the only one of Juncker's 27 nominees from EU member states to be rejected by lawmakers for a place on the Commission. Juncker's spokesman had warned earlier on Thursday that the rejection could delay the start of the body's five-year mandate.

The environmental and energy committees of the European Parliament voted 112-13 against the appointment of Bratusek, who has come under fire because of a corruption probe in Slovenia and a poor showing in her European Parliament hearing.

The Slovenian government can now propose a replacement. Slovenia's new prime minister, Miro Cerar, said on Wednesday that his government would probably suggest another nominee in two to three days, according to local media. At that stage, it was still unclear whether Bratusek would have to step down to clear the way for a new Slovenian nominee.

As the EU's executive, the European Commission suggests legislation and has a major role in ensuring its implementation across the 28-member bloc.

tj/sb (dpa, Reuters, AFP)