Ursula von der Leyen secures re-election as European Commission President with majority support
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has successfully secured the re-election with the votes of the European Parliament to continue leading the EU executive for another five years. This endorsement came during a secret ballot held at midday on Thursday, following the presentation and debate of her political priorities for the next term.
Von der Leyen required at least 361 votes out of the 720 seats in the European Parliament for the re-election. She surpassed this threshold by securing 401 votes out of 707 cast, demonstrating strong support from a majority of the MEPs.
The coalition backing Von der Leyen mirrors the one that supported her 2019 candidacy, comprising the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and the Renew Europe group. Together, these parties hold 401 seats. Additionally, Von der Leyen gained the support of the Greens, who decided to back her at the last moment to counterbalance the influence of right-wing nationalist parties in EU policies.
In 2019, with a required majority of 374 MEPs, Von der Leyen narrowly secured her position with 383 votes in favor, 327 against, and 22 abstentions.
Pre-vote dynamics
Minutes before the vote, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, led by Italy’s Fratelli d’Italia, confirmed that a majority of its members would vote against Von der Leyen. However, they allowed individual delegations the freedom to support her if they chose to.
Additionally, the Patriots for Europe group, spearheaded by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, along with the National Rally and VOX, maintained their stance of rejecting Von der Leyen’s re-election, opposing her continued leadership of the EU executive.
The re-election of von der Leyen reflects a continued strong coalition within the European Parliament, despite opposition from nationalist and conservative groups. Her ability to maintain support from key political factions and navigate the complex landscape of EU politics underscores her position’s stability as she prepares for another term at the helm of the European Commission.
