EU farce: Juncker’s replacement ‘a complete failure’, says German economist

And he even suggested the decision might be motivated by a desire on the part of close ally, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to remove her from her Governmental post “to make room for a much needed change”. Under a deal reached by the 28 member governments on Tuesday after long negotiations, Ms Von der Leyen will replace Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the EU’s executive Commission. The decision must now be ratified by the European Parliament, along with the nomination of Christine Lagarde as head of the European Central Bank.

European Council President Donald Tusk has urged them to do just that, saying: “For the first time, we achieved perfect gender balance in the top positions.

“Europe is not only talking about women, it is choosing women.”

Meanwhile Mr Juncker welcomed Ms Von der Leyen in Brussels on Thursday, with his spokesman saying they met as “true Europeans who have known each other for years”

The spokesman said Ms Von der Leyen had Mr Juncker’s full support after being picked by the bloc’s 28 member states to replace him.

However, the move has not impressed Hans-Olaf Henkel, who stood down as an MEP on June 30, and who said her tenure as defence minister had reduced the German army to a laughing stock.

Mr Henkel, who was elected as a member of the Alternative for Germany Party party in 2015 before quitting a year later to sit as an independent, said: “Von der Leyen Commission President?

“One needs only to study the reactions of the officers of the German Army, the Bundeswehr, to get an objective picture of her qualification: a big sigh of relief!

“Von der Leyen is responsible for the biggest disarmament of a German army after its defeat in two World Wars.

“German Tanks don‘t run, German planes are grounded, German navy ships are anchored due to lack of maintenance, funds and personnel.

“Instead, Von der Leyen’s priorities have been Kindergarten for female soldier’s children.

“Today, the morale of German troops is at an all time low.”

Mr Henkel, a former President of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), added: “On top of that, her Federal Ministry is fully emerged in a financial scandal, currently under investigation by the German Bundestag.

“At at the end of this inquiry it is not unlikely to see her responsible for absurd financial transfers of literally millions of tax payers’ euros with the help of a relative of hers to the consultancy of McKinsey! 

“Rarely have I seen such a complete failure being promoted to a ‘higher position’!

“That leaves me with two conclusions: First, she is deliberately being promoted to make room for a much needed change at the head of the German Bundeswehr.

“Second, this move demonstrates the real importance of the President of the European Commission.”