BRUSSELS (AP) — The next European Union executive has yet to take office, and already it's facing challenges from defiant European lawmakers who have snubbed two proposed candidates to the governing team.

The new European Commission, led by Germany's former defense minister Ursula von der Leyen, is set to take office on Nov. 1 but the process of vetting candidates has not gone as smoothly as the first female president of the commission would have wanted.

Two members of her proposed team have already been taken out of contention by legislators wielding their power to reject candidates. Two others are being targeted, including a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron.