Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib has been selected to take on the role of Belgian European Commissioner, according to a reliable source reported on by Le Soir.
After a long meeting with her party leader George-Louis Bouchez on Monday, Lahbib has emerged as Belgium's choice to become EU commissioner until 2029.
She beat the current EU commissioner, Didier Reynders. Both are from the same French-speaking liberal party MR, one of the big winners from Belgium's 9 June elections.
The former head of diplomacy Lahbib was first floated as a possible name to become Belgium's new European Commissioner last week, amid concerns over the next Commission's gender balance.
"This choice reflects a desire for feminisation and renewal both at the level of the party and public structures," MR leader George-Louis Bouchez said after the meeting. "It also marks the recognition of the brilliant work carried out by Hadja in the management of the EU presidency by Belgium."
Von der Leyen (centre), Didier Reynders (2R) and Hadja Lahbib (1R) pictured at the opening of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Bozar, Friday 05 January 2024. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
Belgium was the last EU Member State to announce its appointment amid ongoing Federal Government coalition talks, which had slowed down the decision.
Lahbib will remain Minister of Foreign Affairs and will head the municipal list in Schaerbeek in the October elections, Bouchez added.
'Deep disappointment'
According to Le Soir, Reynders, who had been largely expected to be appointed, has expressed his "deep disappointment" at the decision.
Liege-born Reynders was European Commissioner for Justice for the previous legislature, 2019-2024. He missed out on being appointed Secretary-General of the Council of Europe in June.
The news will please European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was pushing for a gender balance in the next European Commission. Very few European Commissioner candidates who have been nominated are female.
The European Commission is composed of commissioners from 27 EU countries. Together, the 27 Members of the College are the Commission's political leadership during a 5-year term.
