Angela Merkel in bid to axe Jean Claude Juncker as EU tensions deepen following Brexit
The German Chancellor believes the unelected EU Commission President was a big cause of the Brexit vote
ANGELA Merkel wants to boot out Europe’s federalist chief Jean Claude Juncker “within the year” as the Brexit vote sparks civil war on the Continent.
Sources close to the German Chancellor yesterday claimed she is livid with the Commission President for reacting to Britain’s exit with the promise of “more Europe”.
She feels his relentless push for deeper integration and to take more control from member states is a critical reason 17 million Brits voted to leave the EU two weeks ago.
An unnamed German Minister said: “The pressure on him (Juncker) to resign will only become greater and Chancellor Merkel will eventually have to deal with this next year.”
The revelation comes just days after the Sun revealed Jean Claude Juncker was plotting a Brussels coup to seize control of Brexit talks and punish the UK with a tough deal.
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Under current rules – the EU Council – the body of 28 national elected leaders – is in charge of thrashing out and agreeing the member states’ breakaway.
The German media at the weekend reported how several PMs tore into Mr Juncker after he revealed his plan.
The heads of state are said to have slapped him down saying: “Jean Claude, we have been elected, you haven’t been.”
David Cameron is one of only two EU leaders who opposed Jean Claude Juncker’s appointment in 2014.
But several eastern European nations lay at least part of the blame for a Brexit at his door.
UK sources claimed the split offers hope that Brexit negotiations will prove more fruitful than the PM’s doomed renegotiation this February.
One insider told the Telegraph: “Everyone is determined that this negotiation is handled in the European Council and not by the Commission, the eurocrats and the EU theologians in Brussels.”