Juncker EU Commission candidate Bratusek pulls out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29555651

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One of Jean-Claude Juncker's nominees for the European Commission, Slovenian ex-PM Alenka Bratusek, has pulled out after failing a grilling by MEPs.

She was the only one of 27 candidates voted down and was seen to have handled questions poorly on her proposed role as vice president for energy union.

Ms Bratusek raised eyebrows when she selected herself before leaving office.

Spain's Miguel Canete and France's Pierre Moscovici also faced hostile questioning, but got through.

A final vote by the European Parliament will come on 22 October and so far it is unclear what will happen to Ms Bratusek's post.

In a statement, Mr Juncker, the Commission's president-elect, said he respected her decision to resign and was in close contact with her successor as prime minister, Miro Cerar.

His 28-strong team - one representing each member state - is set to start work on 1 November but could be delayed if it is not voted through by the parliament.

While she was criticised by some MEPs for failing to get to grips with her brief on energy union, there were also claims that she had been treated unfairly.