The decision to give the center-right Austrian People’s Party’s Magnus Brunner the internal affairs and migration portfolio could be read as Brussels’ tacit recognition of the scale of the migration challenge Europe has faced, especially in the wake of the so-called migration crisis. 

Ireland

There were signs Dublin might be lumped with a tiny portfolio after Prime Minister Simon Harris was the first leader to publicly defy von der Leyen’s demand for countries to send both a male and female candidate. That, coupled with the fact members of the European Parliament from candidate Michael McGrath’s party openly campaigned against von der Leyen, built up a sense of foreboding. But in the end, McGrath received the portfolio for democracy, justice and the rule of law. Not too shabby, all things considered. 

Losers

Glenn Micallef 

The Maltese candidate’s lack of experience as a minister and short political career led to a portfolio with little relevance at the European level and even less clout. The youngest commissioner, 35-year-old Micallef, received the intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport portfolio. 

“Few areas are as close to EU citizens’ daily lives” as his portfolio, Micallef said on X. “It is a true privilege.” 

Thierry Breton 

It’s possible that if the bombastic commissioner for the internal market had been nicer to von der Leyen, he might have been promoted to a powerful executive vice president post today. 

However, during the past five years, the fiery Frenchman repeatedly clashed with his boss. Earlier this year, he openly pitched himself as her potential replacement. In recent days, von der Leyen called up French President Emmanuel Macron and promised him a better portfolio if Breton was replaced with anyone else.