Hearings. Sylvie Goulard, in second session, will have to show humility
(B2) The lesson is hard for the Frenchwoman Sylvie Goulard, Commissioner-designate for the Internal Market, Industry and Defence. She is the last of the candidates for the von der Leyen Commission to undergo a hearing, in the form of a catch-up oral (this Thursday morning) for a failed first hearing, and written answers still insufficient in the eyes of the majority of political groups.
Its failure is mainly due to two reasons
One is strictly political and is keen on the atmosphere in the European Parliament over the past few days. The Frenchwoman was the subject of a convergent will of most of the political groups dissatisfied with having had their candidates 'bogged down' (the Romanian for the S&D, the Hungarian for the EPP, the Pole for the Conservatives) of ' taking hostages' on the other side, or dissatisfied with the 'double standard' in the examination of conflicts of interest by the JURI Committee (Legal Affairs). There was also, behind this feeling, the desire to inflict a certain slap in the face on the big boss of Europe, Emmanuel Macron.
But the other reason is more personal and more disturbing in itself. The personality of the regular European corridors, his mocking character, his sufficiency caused a lack of confidence, even mistrust or unequaled hostility. His answers were vague on the substance, whether it be conflicts of interest, or the substance of his files in charge. Particularly in terms of defence, she made unforgivable missteps (especially a former Minister of Defence), not giving the guarantees expected from the European Parliament, in particular on equal access to the Fund.
By refusing to endorse the 'Bieńkowska doctrine' (the current Commissioner for Industry') she lent herself to a second question on the subject during the written questions. By wanting to blow her nose with such and such a deputy, even the German, Evelyne Gebhardt, her former friend from the time of the negotiation of the 'services' directive, she lent herself to a little game which is elegant when dinners out, but has no place in the European Parliament.
By not saying quickly what she wanted to do to 'purge' her participation in the Berggruen Institute, a think tank run by a German-American businessman, she opened herself up to all criticism. Well Named. In politics, you can't all the time pretend that it's 'legal' and that 'everyone does it'. This is no longer up to the requirements, expected today, of the European Commissioners.
During her second hearing, the former French Minister of Defense will have to show a little more flexibility and humility to be able to convince. The ball is in his court.
(NGV)
