European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday won a second five-year term that she promised would see the EU bolstering its defense capability, improving its industry and tackling a housing crisis.
Von der Leyen received votes from 401 members of the European Parliament in the 720-seat chamber backing her — topping the 361-vote majority she needed to remain head of the EU’s executive body. There were 284 lawmakers who voted against her in the secret ballot, held during the first parliamentary session since EU-wide elections last month.
The former German defense minister, who became the first female leader of the European Commission in 2019, had presented herself as the best and most experienced person to steer the commission.
Photo: AFP
However, it has been a rocky path to reach this point. The EU’s 27 leaders debated her candidacy last month before advancing her name.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered his congratulations on social media, calling her reappointment “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times.”
Von der Leyen belongs to the biggest political group in the parliament, the European People’s Party, which is in a coalition with the Socialists and Democrats and the Renew Europe groups.
However, the Socialists and Democrats group said that its support for Von der Leyen did not mean a “blank check.”
“Our job begins now. We will continue working to put our social imprint in all EU policies for the next five years,” said Iratxe Garcia Perez, the group’s leader.
Greens coleader Terry Reintke also congratulated Von der Leyen.
“As part of a four-group pro-European majority, we have secured commitments to continue the Green Deal, make the EU more socially fair and protect democracy. We keep the far-right out of power,” Reinke wrote on X.
Before her re-election, Von de Leyen vowed to boost Europe’s competitiveness and ensure significant investment in key industries including defense.
She also insisted that the EU would not deviate from climate goals that include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent by 2040.
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