Slovenia delays candidate proposal for European Commission amid political standoff

Slovenia is currently facing a political standoff regarding the nomination of a candidate for the new European Commission. The government proposed Marta Kos, a former ambassador, to replace Tomaž Vesel, who withdrew his candidacy on September 6. However, the parliamentary Committee on EU Affairs, led by Franc Breznik from the opposition SDS party, has not convened to provide a non-binding opinion, which is a necessary step in the process. Breznik is demanding additional documentation related to Vesel's resignation before proceeding with the committee meeting. The situation has been complicated by requests from Slovenian MEPs for transparency in the appointment process. MEP Milan Zver has called for the publication of all documents related to the nomination, while Romana Tomc has raised objections against Kos. In contrast, Matjaž Nemec has urged support for Kos, emphasizing the importance of Slovenia's position within the EU. Despite these challenges, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen plans to present her future commissioner team to the European Parliament on Tuesday. The commission's spokesperson, Eric Mamer, indicated that there is still time to resolve the situation before the presentation. The ongoing political tensions in Slovenia highlight the complexities of the nomination process and the impact of internal party dynamics on the country's representation in the European Commission. As the deadline approaches, the government faces increasing pressure to finalize the candidate and ensure Slovenia's interests are adequately represented in the EU.