Ursula von der Leyen, seeking a second term as president of the European Union’s executive commission, emphasized the need for strong leadership in times of crisis and polarization during her final pitch to lawmakers at the European Parliament. The vote on her candidacy follows significant gains by the far-right in recent European Parliament elections.
Von der Leyen expressed her commitment to combating extremism and polarization in European societies, vowing to lead the fight alongside democratic forces. Rejection of her candidacy by a majority of the 720-seat parliament could lead to uncertainties in the 27-nation bloc currently dealing with various challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine and climate change.
In her address, Von der Leyen stressed the importance of Europe’s future direction. She has steered the EU through turbulent times, such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine crisis, while advocating for a Green Deal to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Although Von der Leyen received support from the European People’s Party, there is no guarantee of her re-election, with some lawmakers within her own party possibly voting against her. She needs 361 votes for a second term.
EU leaders recently appointed key officials, including Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as the bloc’s top diplomat, alongside Von der Leyen. Kallas, known for her pro-Ukraine stance and criticism of Russia, will require approval from European lawmakers later this year.
Von der Leyen’s leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, where the EU collectively procured vaccines, earned praise. However, criticism arose regarding the lack of transparency in vaccine procurement negotiations, with a recent EU court ruling pointing to inadequate public access to information on vaccine agreements.
In efforts to address crucial issues like antitrust investigations and foreign policy, European Union leaders are setting the stage for the bloc’s future direction.
