Battle brews over Czech European Commission nomination

A clear battle over the Czech nomination for the next European commissioner is taking shape with ANO leader Andrej Babiš rejecting prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s suggestion that former finance minister Pavel Mertlík should get the job. Babiš said that his party wanted the leader of its European Parliament election list Pavel Telička to get the job, adding that he had superior qualifications after already serving for a short period as a commissioner. Sobotka said that Telička’s candidacy was sullied by his past work as a lobbyist in Brussels. Telička referred obliquely to his possible candidacy on Wednesday saying that in the final analysis the European Parliament would decide who is confirmed in the post. The mandate of the current Euroepan Commission runs out at the end of October.

Author: Chris Johnstone