EUobserver.com: Row over EU official considering Microsoft job - " Is Microsoft trying to buy its way into the EU political system?

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Row over EU official considering Microsoft job - " Is Microsoft trying to buy its way into the EU political system?

An EU official set to head the European Commission's antitrust case against Microsoft is instead considering a job with a consultancy that counts Microsoft as one of its major clients. Frenchman Henri Piffaut was this week chosen to take over in October as head of the unit handling the Microsoft antitrust case and other high profile technology cases, sources told Reuters. But Mr Piffaut has also asked for leave from the commission after being offered a senior role at LECG – a global economic consultancy that advises Microsoft on antitrust issues and which goes with the motto "the expert inside".

"A request for leave on personal grounds has been made [by Mr Piffaut] but no decision has yet been made on that request," commission spokesman Jonathan Todd said. He also added that officials who left the commission or took personal leave must agree to strict measures so that there is no conflict of interest in their work. EU-Digest: "Mr. Piffaut should not only be fired if he takes leave on personal grounds to indirectly work on behalf of Microsoft, but legal action will also need to be taken against him."