Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, has resigned from his position effective immediately, citing “questionable governance” within the European Commission.

The unexpected resignation came after a heated exchange involving Elon Musk, where Breton accused Musk of spreading disinformation by allowing former U.S. President Donald Trump to rejoin X (formerly known as Twitter).

Breton’s resignation letter, dated 16 September 2024, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, highlighted tensions surrounding his reappointment for a second mandate. President Emmanuel Macron had endorsed Breton to continue in the College of Commissioners for the 2024-2029 term, but recent developments revealed that France had been asked to withdraw his candidacy for undisclosed personal reasons.

This political maneuvering, described as a “political trade-off,” led to Breton’s withdrawal.

In his letter, Breton expressed his disappointment with the governance of the European Commission and emphasized his commitment over the past five years to advancing the European good beyond national and party interests. He further noted that these recent developments left him with no choice but to resign.

The controversy between Breton and Musk arose when the Commissioner publicly criticized Musk for allowing Trump’s return to X, accusing him of facilitating the spread of disinformation. The situation escalated, casting a shadow over Breton’s leadership in digital policy and marking his resignation as a significant blow to the EU’s internal market governance.

Breton’s departure will now prompt France to propose a new candidate for the European Commission, further complicating ongoing negotiations about the future composition of the EU’s executive body.