EU Commission chief says her team could face a reshuffle

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission president said Thursday her team could face a reshuffle after the resignation of the Irish trade commissioner over a controversy involving his questionable adherence to COVID-19 rules.

Ursula von der Leyen insisted it was far from clear that Ireland could simply replace Phil Hogan and ensure holding on to the powerful trade portfolio. She indicated she would wait for Ireland to come up with new candidates and decide “at a later stage” where the replacement would be slotted into the 27-strong team.

“I will invite the Irish government to propose a woman and a man" as candidates before she would decide what portfolio would be available.

Each EU member state has one commissioner and the easiest solution would be a straightforward replacement, leaving the rest of the Commission team intact.

The search for a new trade chief comes at an awkward time, in the midst of the pandemic crisis, amid fraught trade relations with the United States and China, and as the final months of talks on a future deal with post-Brexit Britain approach.

Hogan resigned late Wednesday because the scandal about his whereabouts and suspect adherence to COVID-19 rules “was becoming a distraction from my work,” he said.

He came under fire in his home country amid allegations he skirted rules other Irish citizens have to live by to contain the second wave of the pandemic.

“As Europe fights to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and Europeans make sacrifices and accept painful restrictions, I expect the members of the college to be particularly vigilant," von der Leyen said about Hogan's travel decisions over the past month in Ireland.

Not only had Hogan attended a posh golf dinner with some 80 guests when maximum attendance should have been much...