“Some folks would possibly describe him as inscrutable,” stated one in all his shut advisers who, maybe consistent with the persona of the person himself, requested anonymity.
McGrath is “not anyone with any political enemies, not a factional politician,” the adviser continued. “He’s actually a believer that onerous work brings its personal reward, reasonably than political maneuverings.”
The query, then, stays: Will this quiet unreadability find yourself being a optimistic or a adverse within the cut-and-thrust of Brussels politics?
No cutter of offers
An indication of his unwillingness to play the political recreation ― 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 totally different portfolios, examine background materials and take heed to folks with intensive 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 Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, based on folks with data of the state of affairs. Some ponder whether that might end up to have been a blunder.
In spite of everything, had he sat down with von der Leyen earlier than the European Parliament vote to safe her second time period, McGrath may need been capable of reduce a deal on an honest job for himself in trade for promising her Irish votes. As a substitute, his go to to Brussels got here after she had already been confirmed ― and, extra crucially, after MEPs from his personal social gathering had voted in opposition to her.