Denmark’s EU Commissioner and vice-president of the European Commission, probably the most influential Dane at the European level, Margrethe Vestager has lost the race for the presidency of the European Investment Bank. Spain’s candidate, Nadia Calviño got the position.
- A Galician-born Spaniard, Nadia is the deputy Prime Minister of Spain. She is a 55-year-old technocrat (and not a member of a political party) who is not afraid to stand up to big companies. During her mandate, she implemented an extra tax on banks and energy companies due to their “extraordinary profits”.
- What’s next for Margrethe? Well, she returns to her current position until a new Commision is selected after the EU Parliament elections in June 2024. Will she be considered for another mandate? Most likely, no. She is from Radikale Venstre (social liberals) and they are not in government. Will she return to Danish politics? After 10 years of being away, it will be difficult to reintegrate. so most likely she will move forward to another international-level position.
- Who could be the next EU Commissioner from Denmark? The social-democrat Minister for Development Aid and Global Climate Change Cooperation, Dan Jørgensen.
