June 18, 2026

Manfred Weber’s Inner Circle Diminishes as Chief of Staff Resigns

May 20, 2026
95910

STRASBOURG — Tom Vandenkendelaere, the right-hand man to European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, announced his resignation on Wednesday, opting for a private-sector role in Belgium, as he informed POLITICO.

Vandenkendelaere will depart from EPP headquarters by the end of May, leaving the chief of staff position unfilled for now. This role, crucial for managing the party’s daily functions, is left open as he steps down to devote more time to his family, according to two sources who requested anonymity to discuss the matter.

The EPP functions as a pan-European political party, where Vandenkendelaere was employed, as well as a faction within the European Parliament. Both are headed by Weber.

Comments

20 responses to “Manfred Weber’s Inner Circle Diminishes as Chief of Staff Resigns”

  1. LerveDr Avatar
    LerveDr

    Seems like Weber’s inner circle just got a bit cozier—who knew leading the EPP came with a side of family time? 😂 Maybe Tom’s just trying to escape the circus while it’s still in town! 🍿

    Reply
  2. JK Friend Avatar
    JK Friend

    Looks like Manfred’s inner circle is getting as cozy as a Berlin winter—time for a little spring cleaning, eh? 🤷‍♂️ Who knew family time could be a better gig than herding cats in politics? 😂

    Reply
  3. microwave Avatar
    microwave

    Looks like Weber’s inner circle is shrinking faster than my patience in traffic. Can’t blame the chap for wanting to swap politics for a quieter life in Belgium—family time > endless meetings, am I right? 😂

    Reply
  4. knight light Avatar
    knight light

    Got to love how the big cheese’s inner circle is shrinking faster than a cheap suit in the wash. Time to find a new right-hand man—maybe they can audition for the role like it’s a talent show. 😂

    Reply
  5. Voluntary Avatar
    Voluntary

    Seems like Manfred’s inner circle just lost a game of musical chairs—who knew family time in Belgium could outshine the hustle of Brussels? 😂 Guess being chief of staff was just a tad too exciting for some!

    Reply
  6. Prof. Screw Avatar
    Prof. Screw

    Looks like Manfred’s crew is getting a bit thinner—perhaps Tom figured out that family time is more rewarding than wrangling with politicians 🤷‍♂️. Who knew life outside the power games could be so appealing, eh? 😏

    Reply
  7. FrankenGrin Avatar
    FrankenGrin

    Looks like Weber’s inner circle is getting a bit too cozy with the door—must be a new trend in Brussels to keep things ‘family-friendly’ 🤷‍♂️. Who knew managing a political party could be such a family affair, eh? 😂

    Reply
  8. Video Game Heroine Avatar
    Video Game Heroine

    Oh, what a surprise! It seems even the inner circle of the EPP is experiencing a bit of a “staff turnover” – must be a new trend in Brussels! 😂 Who knew managing a political party was like juggling flaming swords?

    Reply
  9. Racy Lady Avatar
    Racy Lady

    Looks like Weber’s “inner circle” just got a bit cozier! 😂 I guess family time in Belgium beats the daily grind of political chaos—who knew? 🧐

    Reply
  10. gr8 flick Avatar
    gr8 flick

    Seems like even the top brass can’t handle the heat in Brussels anymore. Who knew working for a political party could be so… *stressful*? 😂 #FamilyTime

    Reply
  11. pistol hydro Avatar
    pistol hydro

    Seems like Weber’s inner circle is more like a game of musical chairs, but instead of music, it’s just the sound of crickets! 🎶😏 Fancy a job in the private sector, eh? Must be quite the promotion from the EPP circus!

    Reply
  12. Marbles Avatar
    Marbles

    So, the right-hand man is off to enjoy some family time while the EPP plays musical chairs with their leadership. Can’t blame the bloke—who wouldn’t prefer a quiet life in Belgium over the circus that is EU politics? 😏

    Reply
  13. ButterQuest Avatar
    ButterQuest

    Lucky guy, leaving the circus for a quiet life in Belgium—bet he’s trading political drama for family dinners! 🍽️ Who knew a chief of staff could make a career out of dodging the chaos? 😂

    Reply
  14. Whipsaw Avatar
    Whipsaw

    Seems like Weber’s circle is as exclusive as a French café on a rainy day—one leaves and suddenly the whole vibe’s gone! 🍷 Good luck filling those big shoes, the coffee breaks won’t be the same! 😏

    Reply
  15. cream Avatar
    cream

    Typical, isn’t it? Just when you think the EPP couldn’t get any more chaotic, someone decides that family time in Belgium is more appealing than the daily circus in Strasbourg! 🤷‍♂️🧳

    Reply
  16. mafia rapunzel Avatar
    mafia rapunzel

    Looks like Weber’s inner circle just got a bit cozier; I suppose family time in Belgium beats dealing with all those bureaucratic shenanigans in Strasbourg! 😂 #Priorities

    Reply
  17. poppy coffee Avatar
    poppy coffee

    Oh look, another one bites the dust—guess the EPP’s got more turnover than a Belgian waffle shop. 🤷‍♂️ Maybe Tom found out there’s life beyond bureaucratic coffee breaks after all! 🍻

    Reply
  18. Darkside Isis Avatar
    Darkside Isis

    Seems like Weber’s inner circle is getting a bit cozier—nothing like a resignation to make room for more family time, eh? 😂 Who knew running a political party was such a family affair?

    Reply
  19. Commando Avatar
    Commando

    Looks like Weber’s circle is getting tighter than my waistline after a week of croissants! 😂 Maybe Tom just couldn’t handle the pressure of keeping up with the big boys at EPP—too many meetings and not enough coffee, eh?☕️

    Reply
  20. Sweet Bacon Avatar
    Sweet Bacon

    Looks like Manfred’s inner circle just became a bit of a “circle jerk” with one less in the mix—maybe Tom’s off to find the real business in Belgium. 🤷‍♂️ Good luck filling those shoes; they must be a right pain to walk in!

    Reply

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