Slovenia’s male commissioner nominee drops out amid von der Leyen’s gender equality push
https://www.politico.eu/article/slovenia-tomaz-vesel-male-commissioner-nominee-drops-out-ursula-von-der-leyens-gender-equality/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=Twitter
by Apprehensive_Sleep_4
24 comments
I laugh
[ Removed by Reddit ]
A real and highly successful nepo baby.
>BRUSSELS — Tomaž Vesel, Slovenia’s pick to be its European commissioner, withdrew his candidacy Friday in the wake of [pressure from Ursula von der Leyen](https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyens-gender-problem-the-fightback-has-begun/) to provide female nominees.
>European Commission President von der Leyen has increased pressure on certain countries to switch out their male candidates for women for gender-balance. Currently, out of the 26 total nominees, nine are women. (Each member country nominates one commissioner, with the exception of Germany as von der Leyen herself is their commissioner and she was approved by the European Parliament in July.).
>There has been no official announcement from the Slovenian government about Vesel or a replacement for him. The move was first reported by Slovenian media 24ur.com.
>Von der Leyen’s team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
>The u-turn comes just three days after the Slovenian government [stood by its man](https://x.com/vladaRS/status/1830993525434978357), refusing to nominate anyone else in his place. On Monday, Romania [nominated](https://www.politico.eu/article/romania-change-eu-commissioner-woman-roxana-minzatu-victor-negrescu/) MEP Roxana Mînzatu as its next European commissioner after the Aug. 31 deadline, after originally putting forward a man for the role.
>In recent days, von der Leyen [urged Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-asked-change-eu-commissioner-nominee.1097271) to propose extending the mandate of its current EU commissioner, Helena Dalli, rather than nominee Glenn Micallef, two EU diplomats said. But the Maltese prime minister would not change his mind about sending Micallef, a third EU diplomat said.
>So far, pressure has been applied only to countries that are not governed by von der Leyen’s center-right European People’s Party. The EPP is the most powerful force in the European Council and European Parliament, and will have the largest number of commissioners.
>Several female names are now being touted for the Slovenian commissioner-designate, [according to Slovenian media](https://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/tomaz-vesel-naj-bi-odstopil-od-kandidature). They include senior EU civil servant Marjeta Jager, who works in the European Commission’s department for development policy; Marta Kos, a former diplomat affiliated to the party of Prime Minister Robert Golob; and Irena Joveva, an MEP from Golob’s party in the Renew Europe group.
>Slovenia was among many countries that ignored von der Leyen’s summer request to submit two names — a man and a woman — to give her a choice as she builds her top team.
>Von der Leyen said this week that her “first criteria” for her team members was competence, saying the Commission needs people who have either got high-ranking political or executive experience, or have been senior diplomats.
>Vesel, a former top auditor, did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
>Golob wrote in a letter to von der Leyen on August 12 that he was “confident” Vesel was the right person for the job.
Alexa, why is EU governance dysfunctional?
Because you are a sexist pig, of course.
He shoul sue EU for the discrimination instead of withdrawing
This is getting more ridiculous by the hour
That‘ll fix the issues Europe faces and placate the people pushing the far-right: Gender being a deliberate category when hiring top jobs! /s
If this focus on normalising discrimination based on gender continues, no wonder a lot of people feel left out.
Hell, even people who don’t feel left out but just dislike discrimination will dislike such practices and see them as immoral. Who else are they going to turn to?
No surprise Germany have been in a permanent downhill since VdL is in charge…
VDL can’t limp in with less of a gender balance than she did last time, she’s already weakened on several political fronts like the Green Deal and being a relevant global playa. It shouldn’t be too hard to find qualified people, they’re political meat puppets so anyone will do.
What a sexism. Why they care about the gender and not about the experience and skills? This harms EU and its citizens!
It’s not gender equality, it’s called discrimination.
There are over 1000 genders, cant he just pick another one?
Good to see the commission caring about the real issues…going to be filled with neoliberals no matter what gender.
If Europe continues with this mindset, it won’t last much longer. They’ve already fallen far behind Asia and America in technology. The only industries left from the 20th century are automotive and aviation. But even in those sectors, they’re starting to lose to China and the U.S. If you don’t value merit, you’ll start losing your talented people to your competitors.
Weh weh the Commission wants an accurate representation of the women’s population… so upsetting…
I’m pretty sure there are just as qualified women in Slovenia for the job. There is nothing wrong with this. Stop reaching. It’s a voluntary nomination by the country, a suggestive take by vdl, and a voluntary drop out by the candidate.
The article states,
> Von der Leyen said this week that her “first criteria” for her team members was competence, saying the Commission needs people who have either got high-ranking political or executive experience, or have been senior diplomats.
This article seems like it’s rage bait…
A lot of people here pretending that (m)any of the nominees were put forward on merit.
Sorry to inform you lads but generally speaking, politicians, especially Commissioners, are not nominated on the basis of merit, but connections and/or political convenience.
All of the nominations are political and it is valid to require female options. Sorry to break it to you but there are a shit load of highly qualified females out there and there is nothing special about men to warrant disproportionate numbers of men in high up positions.
EU should pick the best possible candidates whatever their gender are.
If you read the article: at no point does it say that the guy resigned *because* von der Leyen asked for gender equality. It only gives that as context.
Vesel himself said there was a disagreement on how the Commission “should work”.
Besides, this isn’t only von der Leyen’s wish. Parliament is pushing for it too, and can veto the College of Commissioners, so their opinion is not unimportant.
What’s more, some of the male picks put forward are just bad. Malta has been under fire because their nominee has no relevant experience, MEPs have said that he is a weak choice. Or Hungary’s Várhelyi, who just insults Commissioners and MEPs alike.
Lastly, von der Leyen herself has said that competence is much more important than gender. She even explained what competence means to her: former prime ministers, ministers, deputy ministers, senior diplomats and senior EU officials. Seems logical in times like these, no? And Vešel does not meet this criterion.
we’ll just send Bratušek next. she’s got some experiences in Brussels commissioners hearings 😈😈😈
For those of you that say “he chose to leave”:
Try to remember that story from two days ago about a miilxed family that sold their home due to racist abuse. Technically, they chose to leave too. But their decision was imposed by others, just like the Slovenian nominee’s.
The European Commission is a laughable wokist and silly attempt of institution. That said, this is all part of the cycle of social dynamics that trigger an increase in extremist politics. A cycle which feeds on itself.