Macron proposes Thierry Breton as new French EU commissioner

France has proposed Atos technology group Chief Executive Officer Thierry Breton as its candidate to head industrial policy in the next European Commission, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said, two weeks after his first choice was rejected by EU lawmakers.

Breton, who was France’s finance minister under late President Jacques Chirac, has been chief executive of Atos since 2009.

Earlier this month, European lawmaker rejected Sylvie Goulard, Macron’s initial pick for European Commissioner, causing anger in Paris where officials blamed German conservatives in the EU parliament.

The French leader, who is keen to preserve the huge portfolio he had negotiated with incoming European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, is looking to put behind what he called a “political crisis” and has sought assurances from her the new candidate would be approved.

Via Euronews