Von der Leyen seeks encore, second term closer
Counts reinforce the supremacy of the EPP in Parliament and Macron does not seem to have the strength to indicate an alternative to the European Council
from our correspondent Michele Pignatelli
-U32242858181WVg-1440x752@IlSole24Ore-Web.jpg?r=650x341)
3' min read
3' min read
BRUSSELS - Ursula von der Leyen's chances of being reconfirmed as head of the European Commission are growing, even if the unknowns of a parliamentary majority to be enlarged remain, in a context in which the composition and size of the groups are evolving.
The numbers
.What gives the incumbent president a clear advantage are first of all the numbers, which, according to the latest update on the vote to renew the European Parliament, see her party, the EPP, increasingly the clear winner, with 189 seats out of 720 compared to 176 in the previous legislature. And new MEPs could be added. Strengthening her candidacy is then the post-electoral weakness of Emmanuel Macron, the only leader who could have opposed her at the European Council, but who now appears inevitably focused on internal affairs, after the decision to call early elections on 30 June.
It should be remembered that the appointment of the Commission President is a two-step process: first he is nominated by the European Council, then he is voted on by the European Parliament.
Possible alliances
.On Tuesday von del Leyen spoke at the closed-door meeting of the MEPs of the European People's Party, reiterating the concepts expressed immediately after the polls closed: that is, the incumbent said that in order to be reconfirmed, she expects the support of the Socialists and Liberals of Renew, the starting point for any discussion, but that it is important to build as large a majority as possible.
A willingness not to close the doors also dictated by the experience of the previous legislature: if in fact the European People's Party has strengthened, the 'Ursula majority' (with Socialists and Liberals) is less solid and now counts on 403 MEPs: 42 over the threshold of 361 (50% plus one), while in 2019 it had a margin of 64 votes. And even then it managed to gain confidence by only nine votes, with the support of MPs from outside the majority.
