Macron nominates Sejourne as EU Commissioner after Breton's surprise exit

European Commissioner Thierry Breton in March. On Monday he said he would be quitting his position immediately, and would not be seeking a second term on the executive body. © Yves Herman/Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed Stephane Sejourne, the country's outgoing foreign minister, to replace Thierry Breton as its European commissioner, after Breton announced he would be quitting, claiming EU chief Ursula von der Leyen had asked Paris to withdraw his candidacy.

Breton’s unexpected resignation Monday comes a day before von der Leyen was expected to announce the makeup of the next Commission following June’s European Parliament elections.