EGN NEWS DESK
“Some folks would possibly describe him as inscrutable,” mentioned considered one of his shut advisers who, maybe consistent with the character of the person himself, requested anonymity.
McGrath is “not any individual with any political enemies, not a factional politician,” the adviser continued. “He’s actually a believer that arduous work brings its personal reward, fairly than political maneuverings.”
The query, then, stays: Will this quiet unreadability find yourself being a constructive or a unfavorable within the cut-and-thrust of Brussels politics?
No cutter of offers
An indication of his unwillingness to play the political sport ― or, as his rivals would possibly put it, his lack of political nous ― got here in July when McGrath visited Brussels. By his personal account on LinkedIn, he used the time to “learn up on the completely different portfolios, examine background materials and take heed to folks with in depth expertise of how the EU system works.” He additionally met with Irish MEPs and the outgoing McGuinness.
What he didn’t do, nevertheless, was meet his new boss, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in accordance with folks with information of the state of affairs. Some ponder whether that would prove to have been a blunder.
After all, had he sat down with von der Leyen earlier than the European Parliament vote to safe her second time period, McGrath might need been in a position to minimize a deal on an honest job for himself in trade for promising her Irish votes. Instead, his go to to Brussels got here after she had already been confirmed ― and, extra crucially, after MEPs from his personal party had voted towards her.
