With a key contender suddenly out of the game, the race for the health portfolio in the next EU executive is back in play. Malta's official nominee for the next Commission, Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne - a surgeon and Europe's longest-serving health minister - was considered a likely pick to replace Cypriot Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. The health community was however caught by surprise when Fearne was charged by prosecutors in a national corruption scandal, resigned and asked for his nomination to the EU Commission to be withdrawn.
Inevitably new names have now started to circulate as possible contenders for the health portfolio, albeit very prematurely in view of the elections next week. These are some names that recur in relation to the post among the Brussels health community, although these appointments are always complicated by numerous external factors, on the balance of the executive as to gender and geography for example. The odds of the outgoing EU health champion winning the portfolio race again are quite slim – but still exist and she has not clarified yet whether she wants to be re-appointed.
"Commissioner Kyriakides is continuing to focus her full attention on her current work and the many important tasks and challenges to be addressed still during this mandate," a Commission source told Euronews. Having weathered the pandemic, the Cypriot enjoys a good reputation on the health side – though she is perceived to have neglected her side-portfol.
