Von der Leyen secures second term at EU helm
Ursula von der Leyen has been reelected for a second term as European Commission president, following a vote at the European Parliament on Thursday.
The German politician secured a majority of the vote, with 401 out of 707 MEPs in favor of appointing her for another five years at the helm of the bloc. A total of 284 MEPs voted against the move, while 15 abstained.
In an hour-long speech at a plenary session ahead of the vote, von der Leyen pledged to fight for a democratic and “strong” Europe, promising to make housing, competitiveness, and defense the priorities for her new term. She also focused on plans to boost bloc-wide defense capabilities and outlined her aim of turning the EU into a “defense union” with a “single defense market.”
The climate agenda and environmental protection, which were at the heart of von der Leyen’s bid for a first term in 2019, will also be among the focal points, she said.
The newly-reelected commissioner has also vowed that the bloc will continue “to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” and signaled that Kiev’s bid to join the bloc may be realized during her tenure.
Regarding domestic EU policy, von der Leyen has pledged to overhaul the bloc’s common budget and make it more efficient, as well as supporting small and medium-sized businesses and protecting farmers across the bloc. In addition, she has proposed the creation of a ‘European Democracy Shield,’ while aiming to increase cooperation between member-states on tackling cyber threats and foreign interference.
Analysts say her address aimed to appeal to MPs across the political spectrum, as they reflected the suggestions expressed by the main parliamentary groups.
“We are in a period of deep anxiety and uncertainty for Europeans [but] I am convinced that Europe, a strong Europe, can rise to the challenge… I am convinced that this version of Europe since the end of World War II, with all its imperfections and inequalities, is still the best version of Europe in history,” von der Leyen stated.
After the vote, von der Leyen announced that she would soon begin the formation of the new EU Commission, asking that each country present two candidates: one male and one female.
Von der Leyen’s reelection was considered not a sure thing following the European parliamentary elections. The voting in early June saw a significant shift away from the left and center, with the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), the Greens and Renew Europe all losing seats, while von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP) bloc gained only one.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group and the insurgent Patriots for Europe made significant gains. Meloni’s group won the most votes in Italy and is currently the third-largest in the European Parliament.
Meloni openly opposed von der Leyen’s nomination for second term, which was reportedly made in a back-room deal between six national leaders that excluded the Italian prime minister. Meloni argued that it was “surreal” that candidates for top EU positions are chosen “without even pretending to discuss the signals from voters.”
