Charles Michel spokesperson to quit

BRUSSELS — Barend Leyts, spokesperson for European Council President Charles Michel, is leaving his job, according to an EU official.

Leyts is leaving to become director of communication for Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo as soon as his replacement is found, said the same official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic.

A former journalist, Leyts, who is Dutch-speaking, became the spokesperson for Michel in October 2014 when Michel was still the Belgian prime minister. Leyts then followed Michel when he was chosen to run the European Council, which gathers all 27 EU leaders to set the bloc’s priorities, in December 2019.

Leyts declined to comment.