Newsroom
The political fate of Ursula von der Leyen hangs in the balance today as 720 Members of the European Parliament convene in Strasbourg at 1 p.m. local time (14:00 GMT+2) to vote on the European Council's proposal for a second term for the German politician at the helm of the EU's executive body.
Von der Leyen, who received the nod to vie for Commission presidency on June 9 following backstage deliberations among leaders including Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Donald Tusk, Olaf Scholz, Pedro Sánchez, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Rutte, faces her final showdown today in Strasbourg.
To secure a second term leading the Commission, Von der Leyen needs an absolute majority in the European Parliament — 361 votes out of the total 720 MEPs. On paper, her support from the European People's Party (EPP), Socialists, and Liberals totals 401 MEPs, with potential additional backing from Green MEPs who might sway the vote in her favor.
However, uncertainties loom regarding the actual number of MEPs eligible to vote. According to protothema.gr, a small number may be absent due to various reasons such as death, assuming governmental roles in their member states, or pending judicial investigations for conflicts of interest. The exact count of eligible voters will be disclosed shortly before the crucial vote.
Fewer absentees could ease Von der Leyen's path to reelection, a scenario closely watched by international observers given the implications for EU leadership continuity and policy direction.
In a bid to shore up additional support, Von der Leyen has engaged with MEPs from the fourth largest political group in the Parliament, the European Conservatives and Reformists, led by Giorgia Meloni. Their potential backing hinges on assurances from the Italian Prime Minister regarding their stance in today's critical vote in Strasbourg.
The Commission President has sought to balance appeals to both Greens and the ECR, promising steadfast climate goals to the former and flexible environmental protections to the latter. Notably, opposition to Von der Leyen's reelection is led by the Left and right-wing Identity and Democracy groups.
The first procedural vote held yesterday for Roberta Metsola's presidency of the Parliament reaffirmed the stable coalition of the center-right, Socialists, and Liberals, with conditional support from Greens and ECR, within the EU legislature.
Against this backdrop, the European Court of Justice's ruling yesterday on transparency in COVID-19 vaccine contracts further complicates Von der Leyen's bid. The Court found her Commission lacking in providing adequate access to procurement contracts, prompting demands from the Left for explanations amidst assertions by the Commission of its duty to safeguard both vaccine markets and European taxpayers' rights.
Tonight's ballot will determine whether Ursula von der Leyen secures more than the 401 votes from the three main political groups backing her. Success would signify a significant win for both her leadership and those supporting continuity in EU governance. Failure would prompt her withdrawal and trigger the European Council to propose a new candidate within 30 days, setting a critical deadline in August that could disrupt EU operations in Brussels and Strasbourg.
The outcome remains uncertain, highlighting the pivotal juncture facing European leadership and policy direction.
[Information sourced from Proto Thema]
