Sylvie Goulard, the French nominee for the next European Commission, gave only a little ground to her critics at a second confirmation hearing on Thursday, leaving her fate hanging in the balance.<\/p>\n
Goulard, a liberal former MEP who is a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, is slated to take on a beefed-up internal market portfolio. But she has faced questions, led by the center-right European Peoples Party, over allegations that she used a European Parliament assistant for domestic political work and about whether her proposed portfolio is too big.<\/p>\n
Goulard, who has insisted that she has not committed any offense, had previously told the European Parliament that she would commit to resign only if she was subject to a final conviction.<\/p>\n
In her latest hearing, she told MEPs she would consult with Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen if she is placed under formal investigation. \u201cAnd on my own initiative or on von der Leyens own demand, I will draw the consequences,\u201d she told a joint hearing of the Parliaments industry and the internal market committees.<\/p>\n
That statement left open the possibility that she would quit if placed under formal investigation, as her critics have demanded. But Goulard also insisted that such a step could not be automatic.<\/p>\n
Goulard now faces a decision by the political groups coordinators in the two committees, who scheduled a 12.30 meeting to evaluate her performance and decide on the way forward.<\/p>\n
She needs two-thirds of the votes at that meeting to be approved \u2014 a prospect that looked doubtful, given MEPs reactions to her latest audition. If Goulard fails at that hurdle, a vote by all MEPs from both committees will take place later in the afternoon, where only a simple majority is required.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not more convinced than I was after the first hearing,\u201d said Jens Geier, who leads the German delegation of the center-left Socialists & Democrats (S&D) in the Parliament. \u201cShe seemed to be a little more prepared but I heard nothing that inspires me on her political projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
On integrity issue, he said: \u201cNow shes ready to consult with von der Leyen, thats a little more.\u201d<\/p>\n