Divisive German civil servant Martin Selmayr should return to Brussels for the sake of the EU, a senior minister declared Wednesday — sparking an immediate rebuke from his own government.
Germany’s EU Affairs Minister Gunther Krichbaum told POLITICO he would “very much welcome” Selmayr returning to the fray in a senior role. The veteran political operator is considering taking a job working for Brussels’ top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, despite opposition from powerful factions in the European Commission and in national capitals.
“If we already have civil servants who are playing at Champions League level, we should deploy them in the right place,” said Krichbaum. “That’s also in Germany’s interest, and it would be good for Kaja Kallas if she had him as support.”
However, that is not the feeling elsewhere in Berlin.
A German government official told POLITICO that “this is not a position agreed by the German government. We will not endorse Mr. Selmayr.”
Selmayr was chief of staff to for..