It's official: Ursula von der Leyen is running for a second term at the head of the European Commission. The election was approved by the Federal Council of the CDU, the German party that leads the European People's Party. And the EPP itself must support von der Leyen as the top candidate at the congress in Bucharest on March 6th and 7th. “Today I am making a conscious and considered decision, I want to run for a second term in office,” the 65-year-old German, former defense minister, who carried the European executive through the pandemic, announced at a press conference in Berlin at the end of the party meeting. Two wars and an energy crisis. “We must defend ourselves against internal and external divisions. I am sure that we have the strength to do this and that is the task that I have set for myself,” she explained.
Also read: EU war against Russia, Hungary changes strategy: “Green light for sanctions”
However, Agi reports, the priorities are essentially two: defense and competitiveness. In the area of competitiveness, anyone who wants can also read a review of the Green Deal policy, which has received sharp criticism in recent years, especially in the last few months, even from its allies in the EPP. “We want to address all the challenges that surround us, but in a way that people know that there is protection and security for them in the EU.” One of the main issues is the competitiveness of our economy, but the other issue is security in a broader sense , and the overarching title is the defense of democracy and our values,” he concluded.
Also read: Does the US want to “cheat” Draghi? Felt: a national treasure that cannot be stolen
Von der Leyen's candidacy comes at a time when the European Union faces strong headwinds from the far-right, Russia's war against Ukraine is still ongoing and the specter of Donald Trump returning to the White House is rattling his allies. Added to this is the data from a still struggling economy, which is being burdened by Germany itself. “I ran for office in 2019 because I firmly believe in Europe. Europe is my home, just like Lower Saxony. And when the question came as to whether I could imagine becoming President of the European Commission, I intuitively immediately said yes. “Today, five years later, I am making a very conscious decision,” said von der Leyen. However, it wasn't an easy transition five years ago. At the European Council – it is the heads of state and government who propose the name of the candidate to the Commission in view of the result of the European elections – it was completely unknown to many people. In the European Parliament he received a vote of confidence by just nine votes. This is also why von der Leyen strives – and is often accused – of looking too far to the right in order to achieve more consensus. The Greens and Liberals, in turn, see this as a crucial element for any support. In short, no alliance with those who want to abolish the Green Deal. Unless von der Leyen wants to do it herself.