Juncker/Selmayr case: European Commissioner Oettinger defends Selmayrs appointment

The European Parliament tonight debates Martin Selmayr's appointment as the European Commission's secretary-general.

The European Parliament can't fire Selmayr - he serves at the pleasure of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker - but it can add fuel to the three-week-old bonfire of controversy.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker chose not to come himself to the European Parliament in Straatsburg.

It's upto European Commissioner G"unther Oettinger (the German commissioner for budget and human resources) to take the floor and defend the procedure.