The vote of applications for the top posts in the EU seems open-ended. This was explained to BNR by Lyubomir Kyuchukov, director of the Institute of Economics and International Relations, former deputy minister of foreign affairs.
European leaders approved the nominations of Ursula von der Leyen for a second term at the head of the European Commission, Antonio Costa as President of the European Council and Kaia Callas as High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security.
Von der Leyen and Callas face a tougher test - approval by the European Parliament. But the Belgian presidency predictably rushed to reach that decision before Hungary, led by Eurosceptic Viktor Orbán, took the baton on Monday. He has chosen an interesting slogan for his 6-month Euro role - MEGA, or "Making Europe Great Again". Like Trump's MAGA.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the process surreal, and she described some of the leaders as "political oligarchs".
This nomination was an attempt to preserve the institutional status quo in Brussels in a new environment, with changed political balances in Europe, Kyuchukov explained.
"The problem is not so much in personalities as in policies.
Many members of the EPP, Socialists and Liberals do not support Von der Leyen.
The EC has been criticized for its handling of the Covid crisis, its bureaucratic approach to the Green Deal and its failure to advance the main debate on Union reform.
I expect serious activity from the Hungarian presidency, Kyuchukov pointed out.
"Prioritization is a problem".
He made a comparison between the current nomination of Estonian Prime Minister Kaia Kalas as the first diplomat of the European Union and Josep Borrell, who held the post until now.
"Borel's period is not particularly highly regarded in Brussels.
The election of Callas is seen as a nod to Eastern Europe and smaller countries, as well as the gender balance in the EU leadership.
If a change can be expected, it would be in the direction of strengthening opposition to Russia".