The President of the Government, Pedro Sanchezhas dealt with Ursula von der Leyenpresident of the European Commission, how to overcome the blockage in the appointment of Teresa Ribera as vice president of the Commission. Both leaders, who coincide at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, took advantage of the occasion to address this issue, although a formal meeting between them has not taken place.
During the first day of the event, Sánchez and Von der Leyen spoke in several informal moments, such as when greeting each other in the summit plenary session and while they were heading to the family photo. However, the content of these interactions has not been detailed by sources from the Spanish Executive.
Sánchez’s team is optimistic about the possibility of unblocking the appointment of Ribera, who is nominated as vice president for the Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition. According to government sources, intense efforts are being made to achieve the necessary consensus, not only for Ribera, but also for the complete formation of the new European Commission.
The Popular Party, however, maintains its veto of Ribera, whom they hold responsible for the management of the DANA catastrophe that affected the province of Valencia and nearby towns. Alberto Núñez Feijóoleader of the PP, recently urged the Government to withdraw this candidacy and propose a figure that generates greater consensus among Spaniards.
The PP has never approved Von der Leyen’s proposal – a member of the popular Europeans—to promote Ribera in the new Commission, but they have found in the catastrophe caused by DANA a reason to try to stop his appointment in extremis.
He European People’s Party He has also raised two conditions to accept Ribera’s appointment. First of all, he must go to the Congress of Deputies to be held accountable for his actions in the management of DANA, something scheduled for next week. Secondly, that he commit to resigning if an oral trial related to this issue is opened.
While Sánchez works to unblock this situation, negotiations continue in the European Parliament. Parliamentary sources suggest that an agreement could be reached in which the EPP withdraws its veto on Ribera in exchange for progressive groups backing the candidate proposed by Giorgia Meloni, Raffaele Fitto.
The possible solution seeks to balance the demands of the European political forces, guaranteeing that the formation of the Commission can be completed without major obstacles. This approach attempts to avoid a institutional stagnation while reaching a consensus that allows progress.
Sánchez, who plans to offer more details at a press conference at the end of the summit, seems determined to continue supporting Ribera as a key player in Europe’s energy and climate transition, despite internal and external resistance.
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