Political stand-off delays approval of new commissioners in European Parliament

President von der Leyen steps in to broker a deal among major groups and salvage the new Commission.

Transcript

00:00The future of European Commission is in limbo.

00:07The six designated vice presidents were grilled on Tuesday by MEPs at the European Parliament.

00:12But instead of wrapping up the decision on the six most important members of Ursula von

00:16der Leyen's team, the process is dragging on.

00:20So it seems that the biggest political groups in the parliament made some kind of deal beforehand

00:26that everybody should pass.

00:28In order to bring the commission into office as quick as possible.

00:33But you know, this deal among the political groups seems to be broken now.

00:39There was a decision expected yesterday already, then today, and now it was postponed to next

00:44week.

00:45And so we don't know really when the decision will be made and what the outcome will be.

00:51If indeed, as originally planned, all commissioners will pass through or not.

00:57Everybody is against everybody right now.

00:59The European Popular Party didn't want to give its green light to Spanish socialist

01:03Teresa Rivera after the floods in Valencia.

01:06The socialists strongly criticized this stance, claiming that Rivera is used as a scapegoat.

01:12This could create a domino effect.

01:14If Rivera falls, it could mean that Italy's ultra-conservative Raffaele Fito could also

01:19fall, something that EPP is strongly rejecting.

01:24As the analysts explain, the role of EPP is very strong.

01:30Parliament works with majorities.

01:31You need 50% plus one for decisions to pass.

01:34And the EPP, together with all the parties that sit to the right of them, have a majority.

01:39But also the EPP can build majorities to its left, together with the social democrats and

01:43the liberals, as happened in the last term most of the times.

01:46So basically, the EPP is the kingmaker.

01:48It can go to the left and it can go to the right to make majorities.

01:50So that makes it very powerful at the moment.

01:53And also in all decisions concerned of the hearings, when it comes to the organization

01:56of the hearings, but also when it comes now to the decisions which candidates pass and

02:01which not, the EPP has a very prominent role.

02:05Time is of the essence for the EU Commission, which needs to be ready before Donald Trump

02:09takes office in the US.