A contender for the EU's top job has mocked British politics as 'Game of Thrones on steroids' amid the Brexit crisis.
Frans Timmermans, currently the commission vice-president, delivered the jibe as he made his pitch to take over from Jean-Claude Juncker this summer.
But the reference to the hit show, in which cities are laid to waste and an army of the undead threatens to wipe out humanity, could further heighten tensions with the UK.
Mr Timmermans was taking part in a debate with his chief rivals, German MEP Manfred Weber and EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, last night.
He said the Brexit chaos in the UK should be a warning to other countries tempted to try to break away from the bloc.
Frans Timmermans, currently the commission vice-president, delivered the jibe as he made his pitch to take over from Jean-Claude Juncker this summer
Mr Timmermans is a known GoT fan - once calling it the 'Zeitgest' of EU politics - but comparing the chaos caused by Daenerys Targaryen in Westeros to Theresa May's plight in Westminster has caused some disquiet
The sniping came as Theresa May desperately scrambles to find a way through the stand-off at Westminster.
The PM has announced she will try to force a Withdrawal Bill through Parliament next month - despite her deal already being voted down by MPs three times.
Talks with Labour on a compromise to deliver Brexit have also seemingly stalled as the party demands a permanent customs union with the EU and another referendum.
Mr Weber, from the centre-right EPP group, said during the TV debate that he wanted to 'open a new chapter' as head of the commission.
Ms Vestager, is aiming to be the first woman to lead the commission.
'It's important to show that we do change and the most visible way to do it is to have a gender balanced commission, the same number of men as the number of women - that reflects our society,' she said.
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