Thierry Breton abruptly ends stint as France's EU Commissioner

PARIS/BRUSSELS: Thierry Breton of France abruptly resigned from the European Commission on Monday and was replaced by Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne as his country's candidate for the next EU executive body, an unexpected twist in the highly political EU power transition.

Breton announced his resignation in a toughly-worded statement as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen-whom he accused of "questionable governance"-prepares to announce this week who will be part of her new five-year team.

As France appointed Sejourne, a close ally, and a former EU lawmaker, as its new candidate, President Emmanuel Macron's office made clear he was vying for a key portfolio centered on industrial sovereignty and European competitiveness.

In his resignation letter, Breton alleged that von der Leyen, with whom he has fallen out, had asked France "a few days ago" to withdraw his name as its pick for the Commission "for personal reasons" in return for an "allegedly more influential portfolio".