Leyen Wins Second Term as EU Chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen won a second five-year term on Thursday.

Following her second time victory, Leyen pledged to tackle the EU’s challenges, including strengthening its defence capability and enhancing Europe’s industry.

The German ex-defence minister, who became the first woman to lead the European Commission in 2019, positioned herself as the most experienced leader to guide the commission.

Von der Leyen received backing from 401 MEPs in the 720-seat chamber in Strasbourg, surpassing the 361-vote majority needed to remain head of the EU’s executive body.

There were 284 lawmakers who voted against her in the secret ballot held during the first parliamentary session since the EU-wide elections in June.

An elated von der Leyen pumped her fists in the air after parliament speaker Roberta Metsola announced the result.

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She later said it was “a very emotional and special moment for me” and that the result “sends a strong message of confidence”.

Von der Leyen’s first term was marked by crises, including the coronavirus pandemic and the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

“We have navigated the most troubled waters that our union has ever faced,” she told reporters.

Von der Leyen faces another challenging five years, with expectations that former US president Donald Trump may return to the White House after elections later this year.

With conflicts in and near Europe, von der Leyen emphasized the need for a “strong Europe” during a “period of deep anxiety and uncertainty”.

Other issues on her agenda include the risk of wider conflict in the Middle East and the EU’s trade tensions with China.

European leaders quickly offered their congratulations.

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose recent victory has many hoping for better EU-UK ties, said on X: “I look forward to working closely with you to reset the relationship between the UK and the European Union.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the result, expressing confidence that she would deliver for Europe.

Von der Leyen’s re-election was “a clear sign of our ability to act in the European Union, especially in difficult times,” Scholz said.

“Times are hard, but with your courage and determination, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. We will do it together,” Tusk, an ex-top EU official, said.

European Council President Charles Michel — who had frosty relations with von der Leyen over the past five years — issued a social media post late Thursday saying: “(I) Welcome the European Parliament vote on Ursula von der Leyen as a pro-European choice.”

Michel, who will be replaced on December 1 by former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa, added: “Unity and sincere and loyal cooperation will be key in addressing our common challenges: values, prosperity, security, and defence. It will require a lot of joint effort.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X he wished von der Leyen “every success in achieving results for all Europeans and strengthening the EU’s unity, defence, and economic power”.

The EU’s 27 leaders fiercely debated von der Leyen’s candidacy in June before putting her name forward as their continuity pick.

Von der Leyen belongs to the largest political group in the parliament, the conservative European People’s Party, which is in a centrist coalition with the Socialists and Democrats and the liberal Renew Europe groups.

She spent weeks seeking to convince different parties to support her.

Despite backing from the Socialists and Democrats group, they emphasized it did not mean a “blank cheque”.

“Our job begins now. We will continue working to put our social imprint in all EU policies for the next five years,” the group’s leader, Iratxe Garcia Perez, said in a statement.

Von der Leyen vowed earlier on Thursday to boost Europe’s competitiveness by ensuring major investment in key industries, including defence.

But she also insisted the EU would not deviate from ambitious climate goals, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by 2040.

She promised to create a new commissioner to tackle Europe’s housing crisis, strengthen the EU’s border agency Frontex, triple the number of border guards, and reinforce the bloc’s efforts against disinformation.

Her promises to better defend the EU’s borders aimed to satisfy her EPP allies but also the far-right ECR group dominated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, Brothers of Italy.

Although Brothers of Italy MEPs voted against von der Leyen, Meloni said that “will not compromise the cooperation” between Rome and Brussels.

Now von der Leyen will have to choose her next cabinet of commissioners to work on EU policy.

Once she names her team, they will face the parliament for confirmation hearings in the autumn.

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Stephen Jesuwale

Jesuwale Stephen is a journalist who finished from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism. He is a distinctive writer, media strategist and also a Digital Marketer