European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing a challenging task of balancing too many men seeking too few prestigious economic roles within the EU executive. With 26 positions to fill, von der Leyen must also ensure representation from each EU member state while maintaining political and gender balance among her senior staff.
Upcoming meetings with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu highlight the struggle for countries to secure desirable positions within the Commission. Fiala is advocating for Jozef Síkela to fill a top economic role, but competition is fierce as everyone vies for key positions that influence the EU’s single market.
Von der Leyen, who pledged to achieve gender equality within her Commission, has urged governments to propose both male and female candidates for consideration. However, most nominations have been male, posing a challenge to ensure a balanced representation of women in top positions.
The Commission president may have to navigate political pressures and potentially replace some male candidates with female alternatives to uphold her commitment to gender equality. As she faces scrutiny from MEPs and member states, von der Leyen must engage in delicate negotiations to achieve a diverse and effective team to lead the EU forward.
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