The European Parliament re-elects von der Leyen as Commission President
Against Von der Leyen, there were 284 voting Members of the European Parliament, with 15 abstentions and seven invalid ballots. Her result was better than during her first election five years ago, when she was elected with a narrow margin of only nine Members.
After the vote, Von der Leyen declared, "This is a recognition for the hard work we have collectively accomplished in the last five years, within the last mandate." She referred to the turbulent waters our Union has experienced, including the Russian attack war in Ukraine and the Corona-Pandemic.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) congratulated her on her re-election. He wrote in the online service X on Thursday, "This is a clear sign of our effectiveness in the European Union, especially in challenging times."
In her program, Von der Leyen had announced that she would prioritize climate protection in industries, energy, and agriculture according to the principles of competition. She advocated for a targeted amendment to the regulation for the combustion engine ban after 2035 and will allow synthetic fuels for cars, known as E-fuels, in the future.
Von der Leyen also intends to ensure more affordable housing and will appoint an EU Commissioner for the first time - one of the few concessions to the left faction in the European Parliament. "Europe is in a housing crisis, affecting people of all ages and families of all sizes," said Von der Leyen in Strasbourg.
In migration policy, she plans to expand the European Border and Coast Guard Frontex to up to 30,000 officers. Von der Leyen also proposed a new common system for the return of women and men migrants. The re-elected Commission President is not only addressing demands from her European People's Party (EVP), but also going to the far-right faction with representatives like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
However, she rejected cooperation with "Extremists." "I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life," she said in Strasbourg. The far-right faction emerged significantly strengthened from the European elections at the beginning of June. Now, one in four of the 720 Members are part of it.
Despite the 401 yes-votes, Von der Leyen did not receive full support from her own conservative camp. There were dissenters even among the Social Democrats and in the Liberal Renew group, such as the five German FDP Members, who stated they did not vote for the CDU woman.
Von der Leyen had to receive numerous votes from the Greens in the secret ballot. Parties from the far-right camp, including the Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose party sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) faction, had pledged their support in advance.
Von der Leyen now assembles a team of Commissioners proposed by the EU governments and must face a hearing in the Parliament in the fall. After that, the Parliament will vote on the Commission as a whole.
- The European Parliament held a vote in Strasbourg for the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President, resulting in 401 yes-votes, with 15 abstentions and seven invalid ballots.
- Following her re-election, Von der Leyen thanked the Members for their support, acknowledging the challenges faced by the European Union, such as the Coronavirus pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- After congratulating Von der Leyen on her re-election, Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellor of Germany, emphasized the effectiveness of the European Union during challenging times.
- Von der Leyen, as part of her program, announced her plans to prioritize climate protection in industries, energy, and agriculture while pushing for a targeted amendment to the combustion engine ban after 2035.
- With the aim of addressing Europe's housing crisis, Von der Leyen intends to appoint an EU Commissioner for housing and increase the European Border and Coast Guard Frontex's staff to up to 30,000 officers.
- In migration policy, Von der Leyen proposed a new common system for the return of migrants and received support from parties outside her conservative camp, including some from the far-right faction, despite her rejection of cooperation with "Extremists."
