European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is increasing pressure on some EU member states to replace male candidates with female ones for European Commissioner positions and to maintain the promised gender balance in the community leadership.

Axar.az reports that this information cites EU diplomats.

In their view, the Commission President is trying to avoid embarrassment over male dominance in the institution:

"To this end, she is already pressuring at least five smaller EU countries, including Slovenia and Malta, which have put forward male candidates. Specifically, Leyen is trying to persuade Malta to withdraw its current candidate, Glenn Mickleff, and instead propose extending the mandate of the country’s European Commissioner, Yelena Dalli.