Ursula von der Leyen wants to continue to lead the European Commission. This was announced on Monday to the steering committee of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Germany, which will unanimously propose her as list leader of the European People's Party (EPP), a formation that must choose its final candidate at a congress in Bucharest on March 7 . March.
“The most important thing is democracy, the rule of law that we defend and the peace that we have built together,” said the German Christian Democrat ahead of the European elections next June. “Our opponents, Putin and his friends, whether they are from the AfD.” [Alternativa para Alemania]Whether Marine Le Pen or Geert Wilders or any other extreme force, they see democracy in Europe as an obstacle that they want to destroy. They want to destroy Europe. And that's why it's so important that people contribute to preserving Europe. That’s why it’s so important to vote and strengthen the center,” he added.
Von der Leyen is considered to have the best chance of winning the majority of EPP votes in Bucharest. The names that have been heard so far – Luxembourg Commissioner Nicolas Schmit (from the Socialists and Democrats) or Bas Eickhout (from the Dutch Greens) – do not carry much political weight. In addition to the CDU and CSU, the EPP also includes formations such as the People's Party (PP) in Spain, Forza Italia, the Republicans in France and the ÖVP in Austria.
Von der Leyen's term ends on October 31st. But after the European elections in June, the EU must elect the new head of the Commission. To be re-elected, she needs the support of EU governments. Twelve of them are led by the Christian Democrats, von der Leyen's political camp.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his support for the German politician's candidacy in a message on the social network X (formerly Twitter), assuring that he also has the support of his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk. “She is determined to promote our common values and protect the unity and solidarity of Europe.” “You have our trust,” said Mitsotakis.
My friend @donaldtusk and I have the honor of nominating him @vonderleyen as the @EPPis the leading candidate for President of the European Commission. It is firmly committed to promoting our shared values and protecting the unity and solidarity of Europe.
She has our trust.— Kyriakos Mitsotakis (@kmitsotakis) February 19, 2024
Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without restrictions.
Subscribe to
“Europe is a home for me, just like Lower Saxony.” [el Estado alemán del que procede]. And when the question came up whether I could imagine becoming President of the European Commission, I immediately said yes. Today, five years later, I am making a very conscious and well-thought-out decision,” said von der Leyen after the meeting in Berlin. “I would like to run for a second term,” he added.
Leader in polls
Typically, the leading candidate of the political group that achieved the best result in the European Parliament elections is appointed President of the Commission. So far, the EPP is clearly leading in the polls, so there is a good chance that Von der Leyen could stay in office.
The former German defense minister was the first woman to head the European Commission in 2019. “Today’s world is completely different.” We have been through a lot together in the last five years. “We have achieved more than we could have imagined,” he said, explaining a few years that he described as “challenging and extraordinary.”
“In these five years, not only my passion for Europe has grown, but also my experience of how much this Europe can do for its people,” he indicated, before listing the challenges he had to face, such as the global one Covid-19 crisis pandemic – from which Europe emerged “strengthened as a community”, he assured – or the war in Ukraine – in which “Europe acted immediately”.
His role at the head of the European Commission was praised by CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who recalled his “reputation not only within the EU but also beyond Europe”. “We are very pleased about your willingness to take on a new mandate [â¦]. We took the first step this morning by unanimously proposing her for nomination on March 6 and 7 in Bucharest,” he added.
Von der Leyen defended herself against criticism of making the status of a candidate compatible with that of Commission President, recalling that there is a “clear separation” between the two positions. “This means that in every public appearance it must be clear in which role I am acting and what resources have been used,” he added. It is not the first time that a Commission President has run for a second term. The Portuguese José Manuel Durão Barroso chaired the Community body twice and the Frenchman Jacques Delors three times.
At a media appearance at the CDU headquarters in Berlin, he promised to reduce the bureaucracy that oppresses many companies. To this end, he called for “advancement of digitalization” and for the competitiveness of European industry and climate goals.
Follow all international information on Facebook and Xor in our weekly newsletter.
Subscribe to continue reading
Read without limits
_