‘Monster’ faces calls to quit over probe into EU sleaze

JEAN-ClAudE Juncker’s right-hand man in Brussels faced calls to quit yesterday after a watchdog suggested Eurocrats broke the law to promote him.

Martin Selmayr was fasttracked to secretary-general of the Eu Commission in a way which ‘stretched and possibly even overstretched the limits of the law’, an inquiry ruled.

The German official, nicknamed ‘The Monster’ by Mr Juncker for his ruthlessness, was even handed the position despite being unqualified to fill it, the report said. He should have first served in a deputy post.

Yesterday’s scathing report by the Eu watchdog also poured scorn on the Commission – the arm of the Eu which oversees

‘Lack of selfawareness’

Brexit and of which Mr Juncker is president – for its ‘defensive’ and ‘evasive’ response to the allegations.

Its leaders showed either ‘a lack of self-awareness and understanding of the valid concerns’ or ‘a wilful refusal to admit to them’, the investigation found.

In her report, the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, said Brussels bosses were guilty of acts of ‘maladministration’.

Mr Juncker was found to have allowed lines to blur between administrative independence and his political closeness to Mr Selmayr, previously his chief of staff. It meant that Mr Selmayr, 47, was effectively parachuted into the Eu’s most senior civil service post.

despite the damning findings, the Commission yesterday said that nobody would face disciplinary action.