When outspoken French Commissioner Thierry Breton resigned from the European Commission with immediate effect, he publicly condemned his (now-former) boss for her “questionable governance.” In a letter posted on social media, he accused von der Leyen of going behind his back to French President Emmanuel Macron to have him replaced.

Ursula von der Leyen will present her new commissioners today. Interest is bound to switch from the personalities to the portfolios — which will signal what the most powerful European Commission president since Jacques Delors wants to prioritise in her second term, writes Andy Bounds.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has designed her second-term Commissioner team to 'divide and rule' in the next five years.