For Belgium, picking an EU commissioner is not a priority 

David Clarinval, the coordinator in the government formation talks for the Reformist Movement (MR) — which is Reynders’ party — said on Tuesday morning that Reynders has done “an excellent job” as commissioner. 

“You know, in soccer, they say ‘you don’t change a winning team,’” Clarinval told Belgian radio — the closest hint yet that the current justice commissioner will stay on for another stint.

The MR also hopes that if Reynders stays on, that will not be taken into account when government posts are distributed.

Reynders has said he’s eager and available to serve another term, after he was defeated in late June in the race to become the head of the Council of Europe.

The other notable name floated for commissioner was that of Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, who was rumored to be a fit for the EU health commissioner job, but his party, the center-left Forward, doesn’t plan to put his name forward.

Last week, Bart De Wever threw in the towel after failing to get a deal on a five-party federal government. King Philippe has appointed Maxime Prévot, from the Francophone centrist party Committed Ones (Les Engagés), as the new mediator in charge of bringing the parties back around the table.