Hungary nominates top envoy for EU commissioner

By Mehmet Yilmaz

BUDAPEST (AA) – Hungary has nominated its ambassador to the European Union, Oliver Varhelyi, as its candidate for EU commissioner, Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced Monday.

Its previous candidate, Laszlo Trocsanyi, was rejected by the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI).

Orban said incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen asked him to propose a new candidate and he chose Varhelyi for the role.

JURI on Monday rejected Trocsanyi as well as Romania’s nominee, Rovana Plumb, for the bloc’s top post amid concerns over possible conflicts of interest.