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This morning, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will run for re-election in Parliament. There is only one vote to try. The chances are good, but there is no certainty.
To be or not to be? The often confusing world of the EU can be boiled down to this simple question. There are exactly two possible answers: To be or not to be for Ursula von der Leyen? Second term or not? Scrap or pot?
The vote facing 720 lawmakers will not only determine the political career of the first woman to serve as president of the European Commission. If the only candidate loses, the EU will experience considerable turmoil.
Von der Leyen will need an absolute majority. The consensus in the corridors of the European Parliament in Strasbourg is that it should be cozy enough. But no one can predict this with absolute certainty – not even the politicians involved in the inner circle of negotiations.
Von der Leyen’s speech is what matters
Around 9am, the decision is drawing closer. Two documents play a central role in shaping opinion. The first is the text of the incumbent’s speech as she takes the podium. It should be a speech that unites, not divides, we hear. Secondly, von der Leyen’s team develops the political guidelines, a written outline of her political program. The text should reflect her plans for the next five years and the projects she wants to implement.
Committee circles said late in the evening that only minor things were being done. The guidelines should reach MPs an hour before the speech. For example, as Germany knows, the text does not contain the fine details of the coalition agreement. However, he must send the right signal to MPs who could imagine supporting him. The Christian Democrats, Social Democrats and Liberals see themselves as a kind of platform. However, this is not a formal alliance.
What’s next for Hungary?
Von der Leyen is expected to take concerted action if the rule of law in an EU member state appears to be in danger. Hungary is often in the spotlight. This week, the European Commission decided to partially boycott Hungary’s presidency of the Council due to Viktor Orban’s visits to Moscow and Beijing.
Officials, not commissioners, should attend the informal ministerial meeting in Budapest. FDP lawmaker Moritz Körner called it a symbolic move, but a step in the right direction. However, he added: “If Ms von der Leyen did not have to be elected to the European Parliament this week, perhaps such a bold step would not have been taken.”
Greens stand firm on climate protection
The Greens also made it clear that von der Leyen could count on at least some of their votes. Michael Boulos, a Green lawmaker and spokesman on climate policy, said the Green Deal, the EU’s climate protection plan, should not be reversed but must be expanded. ARD Brussels Studio: “In concrete terms, this means setting a climate target of a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2040, in line with what science requires.”
The new EU Climate Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, has already set such a target for 2023. But the Greens want to hear from the Commission President himself.
Von der Leyen promotes herself
With the plenary speech and the guidelines that followed, the re-election mission has come to a head. Von der Leyen has also used the week to build trust with potential supporters. She has stayed close to parties that see themselves as the political center. She has also visited the left and the far-right EKR faction, to which Giorgia Meloni’s Brotherhood of Italy belongs. Von der Leyen cannot defend herself against a yes vote from this camp. The election is secret.
That is why predictions about election results are always linked to uncertainty. Parliamentary groups can hold as many test votes as they want. No one can guarantee that everyone will express their true voting intentions. Von der Leyen must live with residual risks.
BSW wants election postponed
The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) wants to postpone the vote. A corresponding letter to Parliament President Roberta Messora is reported by dpa. The reason is the handling of contractual information on the corona vaccine by the European Commission.
this The European Court of Justice ruled yesterdayThe secrecy of information on the multi-billion dollar contract for the coronavirus vaccine violates EU law. The decision can still be appealed to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). According to BSW, the withheld documents must first be disclosed before von der Leyen can vote.
However, it is highly unlikely that this requested postponement will gain the necessary majority in the EU Parliament. Therefore, von der Leyen is likely to take to the podium in the morning as planned. There is only one attempt. This speech must be well-spent.
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