Brussels, July 18, 2024, The Europe Today: Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected for a second term as the European Commission president. The European Parliament voted in favor of her reappointment with 401 votes for, 284 against, and 15 abstentions.
Von der Leyen required a majority of at least 361 votes in the 720-seat chamber to secure her re-election. Upon hearing the results, she raised both fists in victory as Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced the outcome to the legislature.
“I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me,” von der Leyen wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Defending Democracy
In her post-vote remarks, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of defending the European Union’s democracy. “Our democracy is under attack from inside and from outside, and therefore it is crucial that the democratic forces stand together to defend our democracy,” she told reporters.
A Fraught Path to Victory
Despite von der Leyen’s center-right European People’s Party (EPP) being the largest in parliament, her victory was uncertain. After the EU elections in June, European leaders had to negotiate her candidacy amidst objections from far-right figures like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Meloni argued that von der Leyen excluded parties like hers from the political conversation, leading her Brothers of Italy party to vote against von der Leyen’s re-election.
Von der Leyen also faced resistance within her own EPP. Due to the secret balloting, lawmakers felt less pressure to adhere to party lines. A group of French EPP lawmakers accused von der Leyen of a “technocratic drift” and pledged not to support her. Additionally, several centrist MEPs from Ireland opposed her due to her stance on Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Environmental and Security Pledges
To address her critics, von der Leyen committed to stronger efforts for a cease-fire in Gaza. “The bloodshed in Gaza must stop now,” she stated, calling for an immediate and enduring cease-fire, the release of Israeli hostages, and preparations for peace.
She also vowed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, promising a new energy bill to reduce consumer prices. Additionally, von der Leyen pledged continued support for Ukraine and proposed strengthening the EU border security agency Frontex, aiming to triple the number of European border and coast guards to 30,000.
European Leaders Congratulate von der Leyen
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz quickly congratulated von der Leyen on social media, calling her reappointment “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times.” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also extended his congratulations, expressing confidence in her ability to lead through challenging times. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the opportunity to work closely with von der Leyen to reset the UK-EU relationship.
As von der Leyen embarks on her second term, the focus will be on addressing key challenges and advancing the European Union’s agenda in a time of global uncertainty.
