Belgian foreign minister Hadja Lahbib (Francophone liberal/MR) is set to become Belgium’s next European commissioner. Ms Lahbib will take over from her party colleague, justice commissioner Didier Reynders, who was eying a second term.
There has been much speculation about the name of Belgium’s next representative on Ursula von der Leyen’s new team in recent days. Outgoing commissioner Didier Reynders (Francophone liberal/MR) had set his hopes on a second term, but foreign minister Hadja Lahbib was known to have the support of MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez and in the end, she won the day.
MR leader Bouchez said the choice in favour of Ms Lahbib formed ‘recognition of her brilliant work during the Belgian presidency of the European Union’, adding it also met ‘the desire for renewal and feminisation’.
Belgium was the last EU member state to put forward a candidate for the new commission. That’s largely because the job of European commissioner affects the ongoing negotiations on the formation of a new federal government. The post is taken into account when top government jobs are shared out among the coalition partners.
The choice in favour of Ms Lahbib, enhances the gender balance in the commission, something known to be close to the heart of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Ms Von der Leyen now has the job of putting a team together and handing out portfolios.
Mr Reynders is 'dismayed'
Didier Reynders told the Francophone broadcaster RTBF that he is ‘deeply disappointed by the MR leader's decision’. Earlier this year, Mr Reynders also missed out on a second top international job as secretary-general of the Council of Europe. He said that in coming weeks he now intends to ‘focus on his European duties’.
Mr Reynders has been the European justice commissioner since 2019 and previously served in the Belgian cabinet for two decades. What the future holds for the Francophone liberal is unclear. MR leader Bouchez thanked Mr Reynders ‘for his hard work’ and said he ‘remains an important figure in the party’.