Belgium appoints foreign minister to key EU position

Belgium on Monday named foreign minister Hadja Lahbib as its candidate for the next European Commission, bolstering EU chief Ursula von der Leyen's push to get more women on her team.

The European Union's member states have been putting forward their picks for the top jobs in the next EU executive after elections in June.

Belgium was the last of the bloc's 27 countries to make its nomination, as its politicians are locked in negotiations to form a coalition government.

Von der Leyen has been pressing countries to name both a man and woman for the job in a bid to reach gender parity.

But most member states have ignored her plea, meaning she appears on course to fall short of reaching the target.

Belgium's choice of candidate fell to Lahbib's Reformist Movement party after it made a strong showing in the recent elections.

"This designation reflects a desire for feminisation and renewal," party leader Georges-Louis Bouchez wrote on X.

Lahbib, a former TV journalist, beat out competition from Belgium's current European commissioner Didier Reynders for the nomination.

As of now, just nine women have been nominated to serve alongside von der Leyen, including former Estonian premier Kaja Kallas as the bloc's top diplomat.

That number was also bolstered Monday after Romanian media reported that Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had switched his pick from a male candidate to MEP Roxana Minzatu.

Von der Leyen, who secured a second term as commission chief in July, is expected to unveil her proposed lineup for the top jobs next week.

The European Parliament will then have to vet and approve each candidate.