In a significant shift within the European Commission, Raffaele Fitto, a right-wing populist from Italy's Fratelli d'Italia party, is set to become an Executive Vice President.

This marks the first time a member of this party will hold such a high-ranking position, overseeing the economy and COVID-19 reconstruction aid.

Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission's President, is restructuring the leadership, introducing five Executive Vice Presidents.

This move is part of a broader strategy to depoliticize the Commission, moving away from traditional political alignments.

Other notable appointments include Valdis Dombrovskis for Ukraine's expansion and reconstruction, and Teresa Ribera Rodriguez for social, digital, and ecological transitions.

The new structure aims to streamline decision-making and focus on key issues like deregulation and budget negotiations.