Weber is one of the most influential people in Brussels — arguably second only to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The decision to appoint Vandenkendelaere was the latest in a series of maneuvers Weber has executed to tighten his grip on the EPP machinery. But Bakolas’ open insubordination is unprecedented.
Looming behind the personnel dispute is a larger clash over the direction of the EPP, which under Weber’s leadership has cozied up to hard-right leaders like Giorgia Meloni. The rapprochement — Weber met with Meloni in Rome this summer — has angered some inside the EPP who believe the Bavarian politician is yanking the party too far to the right.
Weber allies say he’s determined to fully capitalize on the EPP’s growing power and see its players in the EU institutions work more seamlessly with the national parties.
The party’s presidency committee met Monday before the political assembly started. The outcome of the meeting was that Weber, as EPP president, would sign a contract that would make Vandenkendelaere his head of Cabinet, according to an excerpt of a paper circulated and adopted at that meeting, viewed by Playbook.
While the EPP group is all about MEPs, the EPP party exists to serve national leaders and parties. Bakolas, who is close to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, appears to be making a gamble that EPP-linked leaders such as Polish PM Donald Tusk, Finnish PM Petteri Orpo and German Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz will back him and intervene to rein in Weber.
If they don’t, it would solidify Weber’s position as the unassailable EPP top dog.