Dutch MEP Sophie in ’t Veld (D66) has joined critics of incoming European Commission president Ursula Von der Leyen for her controversial nomination of a commissioner for the ‘European way of life’.

In a reaction to an article by Von der Leyen in Le Soir on Monday, In ‘t Veld said that ‘European white, male, heterosexual Christians’ continue to be the norm while  women, minorities, LGBTI and Roma’ are far less able to count on European values.

She also attacked Von der Leyen for not mentioning migrants in her op-ed piece. To do so, the MEP said, may have been embarrassing for the new commissioner who has previously been ‘depicting migration as a threat to ‘our way of life’’ .

By doing so is playing into the hands of the right-wing nationalists she professed to oppose, In ‘t Veld said. She advised Von der Leyen to drop the portfolio title which has been widely held  to be a ‘dog whistle’ to right wing groups.

Weber lent his full support to the ‘Protecting the European Way of Life’ job title. “The title is a good title!”

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