Von der Leyen re-elected as Commission President

Against Von der Leyen, 284 Members of the European Parliament voted in favor, with 15 abstentions and seven invalid ballots. Her re-election is "a recognition for the hard work we have collectively accomplished in the last five years, within the last mandate," Von der Leyen declared after the vote. "We have navigated through the stormiest waters our Union has ever experienced," she said, looking at the Russian aggression in Ukraine and the Corona-Pandemic.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) congratulated her on her re-election in the online service X as "a clear sign of our effectiveness in the European Union, especially in challenging times." "Europeans expect us to lead the way," Scholz wrote further.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Von der Leyen's re-election on X for "a sovereign, prosperous, and competitive, democratic Europe." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also congratulated the EU Commission President in the online service. He wished her all success in achieving "results for all Europeans" and strengthening the unity, defense, and economic power of the EU.

In her program, Von der Leyen had announced that she would prioritize climate protection in the industries, energy, and agriculture sectors according to the principles of competition. She spoke in favor of a targeted amendment to the regulation for the combustion engine ban after 2035 and intends to allow synthetic fuels for cars, known as E-fuels, in the future.

Von der Leyen also wants to ensure more affordable housing and, for the first time, appoint an EU Commissioner for this purpose - one of the few concessions to the left faction in the European Parliament. "Europe is in a housing crisis that affects people of all ages and families of all sizes," Von der Leyen said in Strasbourg.

In migration policy, she plans to expand the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex to up to 30,000 officials. Von der Leyen also proposed a "new common system for returns." The re-elected Commission President is not only addressing demands from her European People's Party (EVP), but is also addressing the far-right camp with representatives like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

She ruled out cooperation with "extremists." "I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life," she said in Strasbourg. The far-right camp emerged significantly stronger from the European elections in early June. It now counts roughly one in four of the 720 Members of the European Parliament.

Despite the 401 yes-votes, Von der Leyen does not have the full support of her own conservative camp. There were also dissenters among the Social Democrats and in the Liberal Renew group - such as the five German FDP members, who, according to their own statements, did not vote for the CDU woman.

Von der Leyen had to receive numerous votes from the Greens at the secret ballot, however. Parts of the right-wing camp had also pledged their support in advance, among them Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose party sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) right-wing fraction in the European Parliament.

Meloni's ultraright party Fratelli d'Italia (FDI), however, voted against a new term for von der Leyen. The approach of the Commission President towards the Greens, who supported her re-election, "made our support impossible", said Carlos Fidanza, Chief of the Party in the European Parliament.

Meloni herself declared, however, that she still wanted to work with Brussels. The vote in the European Parliament "will certainly not affect the cooperation that the Italian government and the European Commission have already demonstrated on many issues, such as migration", she said in a video message.

Von der Leyen is now putting together a team of commissioners proposed by the EU countries' governments, who will have to face a hearing in the parliament in the fall. After that, the parliament will vote on the commission as a whole.

Despite the support from the European People's Party (EVP) and some members of the far-right camp, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD party did not vote in favor of Von der Leyen's re-election.
Olaf Scholz congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election, but emphasized that European citizens expect the EU to lead in challenging times, including the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, also congratulated Von der Leyen on her re-election, expressing hopes for results that will benefit all Europeans and strengthen the EU's unity, defense, and economic power.
Von der Leyen announced that she would prioritize climate protection in various sectors and support the use of synthetic fuels for cars, known as E-fuels, in the future.
In her program, Von der Leyen also proposed more affordable housing and appointed an EU Commissioner for this purpose, making it one of the few concessions to the left faction in the European Parliament.
In migration policy, Von der Leyen plans to expand Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, and propose a new common system for returns, addressing demands from her conservative camp and the far-right camp, including representatives like Giorgia Meloni.
Although Giorgia Meloni's ultraright party Fratelli d'Italia (FDI) voted against a new term for Von der Leyen, Meloni herself stated that she wanted to continue working with Brussels on issues such as migration.
With one in four Members of the European Parliament now representing the far-right camp, Von der Leyen's approach towards the Greens, who supported her re-election, may have garnered her crucial votes but also made some far-right parties like FDI impossible to support.
The re-elected Commission President, Von der Leyen, will now put together a team of commissioners proposed by the EU countries' governments, who will have to face a hearing in the parliament in the fall before the parliament votes on the commission as a whole.