A position that seemed to already be his – deputy secretary general of the European External Action Service (EEAS), a new role in forcing EU leaders to agree on foreign policy – seemed ideal. However, inept policy proved to be the undoing of the experienced German official.
According to three officials, “Selmayr is likely to remain in Rome for the foreseeable future as opposition from European Commission leadership has thwarted his efforts, especially since he has so far refused to accept an alternative role in the Belgian capital.”
The intrigue culminated during the meeting of the College of Commissioners on October 21 this year, when a group of Ursula von der Leyen's allies proposed that Selmayr be given the position of special envoy for religious freedoms, which would bring him back to Brussels, but in a much less prestigious role than in the EEAS.
The plan was developed because of Selmayr's very public maneuvers, which, according to people present at the meeting, spooked some national capitals.
“It was a way of saying, OK, if you want to go back to Brussels, here's how you can do it,” said one EU official. about the proposed function of envoy for religious freedom.
However, during the meeting of the College of Commissioners earlier this week, Selmayr was also not proposed for the position of envoy for religious freedom. “It was the only job he could take,” the official said. “If he doesn't want her, he'll stay in Rome,” he added.
Selmayr declined to comment publicly on the entire process.
Berlaymont building – headquarters of the European Commission, Brussels, Belgium, May 19, 2025.OLIVIER HOSLET / PAP
Dominus vobiscum – The Lord be with you
During his time as head of former Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's cabinet, Selmayr gained a reputation for being ruthless and effective. Due to his brutal methods and actions, he was also called the “Monster of Berlaymont”.
Many thought Selmayr's departure in 2019, intended to ease concerns about German over-representation [w UE] and giving new President Von der Leyen a clean slate to govern will mean the end of his career in Brussels.
But Selmayr's indomitable energy and intelligence made him stand out even in Rome, where he made a splash by entertaining dignitaries, cardinals, and other powerful Vatican figures at his luxurious abode adjacent to the ancient Baths of Caracalla.
“The fact that someone who was a political animal in Brussels was able to find his place here and gain respect in the Vatican is a testament to his qualities,” said one of the envoys who got to know Selmayr well. — I saw him chairing meetings of EU ambassadors; he was charming, polite and very informative, he added.
Diplomats say Selmayr, who was also entrusted with representing the EU in talks with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, immediately raised the EU's profile by using his skills acquired in Brussels to solve current problems.
Clerics and experienced attachés were impressed by how much this representative of the establishment knew about their closed Catholic world. One of them pointed out that Selmayr seemed to enjoy his work at the Vatican more than he should have — given that he was officially expected to prioritize the U.N. portion of his work.
Meanwhile, a diplomatic source said Selmayr seemed overqualified to be ambassador. “He's prone to intrigue, which is fun, but intrigue on multilateral agricultural issues isn't very ambitious geopolitics. You can see that he wants to have more influence and achieve results quickly, but he understands that it doesn't work like that here… he does his job, but it's not too demanding – described Selmayra.
Sede vacante – empty throne
The sight of one of the EU's most talented behind-the-scenes activists languishing in the Vatican presented a clear opportunity for the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and her allies. For months, the former Estonian prime minister has been locked in a power struggle with member state capitals over key political issues such as sanctions against Israel and relations with US President Donald Trump.
Kallas was also in increasingly intense conflict with Von der Leyen and her own all-powerful chief of staff, Selmayr's successor, Bjoern Seibert.
– Kaja wants to have her own Bjoern – revealed the third diplomat from POLITICO's interlocutors – And that is Martin.
However, there were fears that the “release” of the intriguer Selmayr and his return to Brussels could worsen the already tense political situation. “The only similarities between Bjoern and Martin are that they are both very intelligent and both come from Germany,” said a senior EU official, arguing that Seibert strives for loyalty and chooses to act quietly, while Selmayr is a political animal with no such scruples.
“People think he would be some sort of monster under the bed for Von der Leyen — but he would actually be a monster under the bed for Kallas,” one source said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas at the meeting of the College of Commissioners in Brussels, Belgium, 4 November 2025.OLIVIER MATTHYS / PAP
Cardinal electors
Selmayr's return to the EEAS would be controversial due to his reputation, but according to Guenther Oettinger, who served as German European Commissioner from 2010 to 2019, when Selmayr was at the peak of his career as Secretary General of the European Commission, it was not in the cards [objęcie przez Selmayra stanowiska wiceszefa ESDZ] chances.
“The preparatory work was not convincing,” Oettinger said. — To take up such a high position in the EEAS, he needs the full support of several member states: because he is German, the full support of the German government, as well as France, Poland and so on.
– The idea is a first step, but the lack of full support from the Member States – I would say this is Mrs Kallas's mistake – he added.
Diplomats and officials interviewed by POLITICO said key countries were not asked about their support for Selmayr's return or informed about the process. There were also divisions in his home country regarding Selmayr's potential return.
In late October, German EU Minister Gunther Krichbaum told POLITICO that he would be “very happy” to see Selmayr return to high office, which was met with immediate criticism from his own government.
The European Commission is also under criticism from civil society groups, which fear that positions are being distributed behind closed doors by its “cardinal electors”. In a letter to Von der Leyen, Humanists International warned that the role of envoy was too important to play politics through. Officials, the organization says, should present a “transparent and accountable selection process that should include, at a minimum, public candidate lists and criteria, as well as meaningful consultation with Parliament and civil society.”
For now, the German apparatchik is not discouraged and continues his plans.
— Mr. Selmayr successfully completed the EEAS recruitment process last week, said a person familiar with his candidacy.
— Whether he takes up this post in the near future or continues as EU ambassador to the UN in Rome and the Holy See must now be decided jointly by the EU High Representative and the President of the Commission [na podstawie kryterium tego, czy kandydatura Selmayra jest] “in the interest of service”.
But with Selmayr's carefully crafted plans clashing with those of EU leaders, all he and his allies can do is redouble their efforts and hope they can do better than his rivals.
“He's perfectly qualified,” said the fourth diplomat. — If he doesn't get the job, it will be because of politics.
