Bangladesh, Feb. 2 -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing renewed criticism from within the ranks of the very institution she leads, as former commissioner Nicolas Schmit publicly questioned her leadership style, strategic vision, and the broader direction of the European Union under her rule. Schmits remarks add to a growing chorus of discontent among former and current EU officials who argue that the Commission has become overly centralized, politically rigid, and strategically adrift.

In an interview published by Politico on February 2, Schmit-who served as European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights from 2019 to 2024-described what he sees as a fundamental erosion of collegial governance within the Europ...