It looks like VDL has been looking for a Commission job for quite some time, but might only have been expecting the German Commissioner or Foreign and Security chief roles. Macron and Visegrád support seems to have been pivotal in her election - helped by her Atlanticist and anti-Putin views. Given the SPD failed to support her, her EP victory by a narrow margin is hardly surprising.

Her recent support for a further Brexit extension might put her at odds with Macron though. Boris shows every sign of fluttering away what little time is left before end-October... Tusk's admonition not to waste the current extension shows every sign of being ignored. It will be ironic if the UK ends up being kicked out despite wanting a further extension. Only an imminent general election would be sufficient reason for Macron, I suspect.

Index of Frank's Diaries