By Martin Banks - 21st September 2009
The election of Figel is great news for Slovakia
Wilfried Martens
EU commissioner Jan Figel' is expected to formally resign after he was elected leader of an opposition party in his native Slovakia.
He will hand in his resignation letter to commission president Jose Manuel Barroso on Monday after his election at the weekend as leader of Slovakia's Christian Democratic Movement (KDH).
At a congress in Nitra yesterday, Figel' received an overwhelming 304 out 309 delegate votes. He is responsible for education, training, culture and youth.
Figel' has been a commissioner since 2004 and served for a short time in the former Romano Prodi executive.
A commission spokesman said it was up to the Slovak government to decide who it will nominate to replace him.
His replacement would either be for the one month between his departure at the end of this month and the start of the new commission, which is expected to be in November or December after the parliamentary confirmation hearings.
One name already mentioned is that of Maros Sefcovic, the country's current ambassador in Brussels.
Two of his main achievements have been in helping to set up the European institute for innovation and technology and pressing for an EU-wide strategy for culture, the first time that has happened.
Wilfried Martens, president of the European People’s Party, paid tribute to Figel, saying, “The election of Figel is great news for Slovakia. Figel was one of the most successful members of the Barroso commission and I believe that his great European experience will bring added value to Slovak politics.
“For the past five years I had the great pleasure of working closely with
Figel.
"He has proven to be very loyal to the EPP and committed to Christian Democratic values and principles. Clearly, his return to Slovak
politics will strengthen the KDH and centre-right politics in general. I look forward to the continuation of our close relationship in his new capacity as KDH leader and to receive him at the EPP fora."
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