The European Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) urge President Juncker to think twice before he reshuffles his cabinet and gives Commissioner Oettinger additional competences. They also call on him to seriously scrutinise Oettinger’s recent lift in a private jet from Brussels to Budapest offered by a businessman with strong links to the Kremlin:
In most governments a Minister who openly made racist remarks would already have resigned. In Oettinger’s case there is also the question if he has acted against the ethical rules of the Commission.
President Juncker should urge the Commission Ethics Committee to seriously examine the allegations before even thinking of giving him additional competences.
The reputation of the European Commission and the European Union itself are at risk. If Juncker decides that Oettinger will take over the Budget portfolio, he will face a very critical Parliament. All doubts should be cleared in advance.
Note for the editors
Commissioner Oettinger is well-known for his political incorrectness. He has called Bulgaria, Romania and Italy “barely governable”, has compared net neutrality activists with the “Taliban” and said in an interview that the new Greek government was behaving like “bulls in a china shop”.
Recently, Commissioner Oettinger made the news after he called Chinese officials “slant eyes” and accepted transportation in a private jet from Brussels to Budapest by Klaus Mangold, a businessman with strong links to the Kremlin.
