The approval of the next EU Commission has stalled in a dispute between the EU Parliament's two traditional major parties: the Christian Democratic conservative EPP and the Social Democratic S&D.
S&D dislikes the commissioner candidates from the far-right governments in Hungary and Italy. EPP counters by demanding that the Spanish S-candidate and Climate Minister Teresa Ribera must first be heard in their own parliament about the rain disaster in the Valencia area.
"Hypocrisy"
The anger from both sides is palpable. S&D believes that EPP is breaking the agreement on a pro-European majority and wonders if they instead want to ally themselves with the far-right.
This is a very strange behavior from EPP's side. You have a special responsibility when you are the largest party group. It is so blatant that it is EPP that is now driving this aggressive attack, says Heléne Fritzon (S).
Tomas Tobé (M) in turn accuses S&D of not being able to talk to the other party groups in parliament.
We see enormous hypocrisy and a social democracy that does not take any responsibility at all right now. It's incredible, says Tobé.
Delayed until 2025?
The deadlock means that no preliminary approvals of the next EU Commission are expected this week. This means that it may be delayed until after the turn of the year before the new Commission takes office.
The big winner could be the far-right. If the disagreement between S&D and EPP persists, EPP could instead cooperate not only with SD's party group ECR but also with the more hard-line far-right in Hungarian Viktor Orbán's party group PFE and German AFD's Russia-friendly ESN.
Tomas Tobé opens up for such a majority.
Yes, that's what the social democrats are asking us to do under the table, to solve their internal problems. Here I say: grow up! Realize that Hungary and Italy also need a commissioner, says Tobé.
A dangerous game by EPP, according to S.
Then Tomas Tobé and the EPP-ers must be clear about it, that they want to cooperate with right-wing extremist parties in Europe. And then we go into opposition, says Fritzon.
The EU Parliament's members are divided into eight party groups:
* Christian Democratic conservative EPP: 188 members (including 4 from The Moderate Party and 1 from The Christian Democrats)
* Social Democratic S&D: 136 (including 5 from The Social Democratic Party)
* Nationalist conservative PFE: 86 (no Swedes)
* EU-skeptical conservative ECR: 78 (including 3 from The Sweden Democrats)
* Liberal RE: 77 (including 2 from The Centre Party and 1 from The Liberals)
* Environmentalist De gröna/EFA: 53 (including 3 from The Green Party)
* The Left - GUE/NGL: 46 (including 2 from The Left Party)
* Far-right group ESN: 25 (no Swedes)
In addition, there are 30 members who do not belong to any party group.
