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In a decisive move, the European Parliament has elected Ursula von der Leyen to serve a second term as President of the European Commission, with a strong mandate of 401 votes in favor. The secret ballot, held on July 18, saw 284 MEPs voting against von der Leyen, while 22 votes were deemed blank or invalid out of a total of 707 votes cast. With a parliamentary composition of 719 MEPs, the necessary majority for election stood at 360 votes.
Von der Leyen, who first assumed the presidency in July 2019, outlined her strategic priorities for the next five years during a pre-vote debate with MEPs. Her re-election paves the way for the next steps in the Commission’s formation process. She will now formally request member state leaders to nominate candidates for European Commissioner roles. After the summer break, Parliament plans to conduct hearings to vet these nominees, followed by a vote to endorse the entire College of Commissioners.
Article 14 of the Treaty of the European Union mandates the European Parliament to elect the Commission President. Von der Leyen, representing the European People's Party (EPP), initially secured her position following the 6-9 June European elections. The continuity in leadership signals a period of stability as the EU navigates complex challenges and seeks to advance its agenda across member states.
