Von der Leyen says re-election is a ‘very emotional and special moment’
In a press conference after the vote, Ursula von der Leyen said “this is a very emotional and special moment for me now.”
She noted that she won the vote by a bigger margin than in 2019. “Much better,” she said, to laughter in the room.
“This sends a strong message of confidence, and I think it’s also recognition for the hard work that we carried out together in the last five years,” she said.
Key events
Summary of the day
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Ursula von der Leyen won a European parliament vote to stay on as president of the European Commission for a second five-year term.
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401 MEPs voted in favour, 284 against and 15 abstained, giving von der Leyen a bigger winning margin than during her last confirmation in 2019.
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Von der Leyen formally got the support of her centre-right European People’s party, as well as the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, the liberal Renew Europe and the Greens.
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The European Conservatives and Reformists had a free vote, though it appears most of the group’s delegations voted against von der Leyen.
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A host of European leaders congratulated von der Leyen, whose reappointment comes as a relief for many capitals.
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Von der Leyen’s confirmation garnered criticism from the Left group, as well as from far right figures such as the French National Rally’s Jordan Bardella and parties such as Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.
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In a press conference, von der Leyen said she will now ask leaders to put forward candidates for the commission – a man and a woman from each member state, with an exception granted for countries who are putting forward incumbent commissioners.
Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, congratulated von der Leyen.
“I look forward to working closely with you to reset the relationship between the UK and the European Union,” he said.
Congratulations @vonderleyen on your re-election as President of the @EU_Commission.
I look forward to working closely with you to reset the relationship between the UK and the European Union.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 18, 2024
Sam Jones
Pedro Sánchez, the socialist Spanish prime minister, also congratulated von der Leyen.
“We will continue to work together to advance a more prosperous, sustainable and socially just European Union,” he said.
Felicidades, querida Ursula @vonderleyen, por tu reelección como presidenta de la @EU_Commission.
Continuaremos trabajando juntos para avanzar en una Unión Europea más próspera, sostenible y socialmente justa.
España seguirá siendo un socio leal y constructivo para avanzar en…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 18, 2024
Enikő Győri, an MEP from Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party, said “Europe is weaker than it was 5 years ago.”
“Yet, von der Leyen was reelected, as she seems to be ready to implement the wishes of the Left. On the basis of the debate the glue that keeps together the ancien regime is their hate towards Viktor Orban,” she said.
Europe is weaker than it was 5 years ago. Yet, #vonderLeyen was reelected, as she seems to be ready to implement the wishes of the Left. On the basis of the debate the glue that keeps together the ancien regime is their hate towards #ViktorOrban. pic.twitter.com/CEpsxjz71J
— Enikő Győri (@GyoriEniko) July 18, 2024
Von der Leyen asks for male and female candidates from EU member states
Ursula von der Leyen said that in the coming weeks she will ask leaders to put forward candidates for the commission.
“I will, as I did last time, write a letter and ask for the proposal of a man and a woman as as candidates. Only exception, like last time, when there is an incumbent commissioner that stays,” she said.
“Once again, I will aim for an equal share of men and women at the college table,” she added.
Von der Leyen says re-election is a ‘very emotional and special moment’
In a press conference after the vote, Ursula von der Leyen said “this is a very emotional and special moment for me now.”
She noted that she won the vote by a bigger margin than in 2019. “Much better,” she said, to laughter in the room.
“This sends a strong message of confidence, and I think it’s also recognition for the hard work that we carried out together in the last five years,” she said.
Greenpeace’s EU director, Jorgo Riss, has said that “Ursula von der Leyen hasn’t thrown the Green Deal overboard, but she presented an agenda for her second term which is lacking in concrete measures and major new initiatives, and which is clearly a lot less coherent than her first term.”
“There’s a clear risk that her next term in office will suffer from even more of the internal contradictions that have undermined Europe’s green ambitions so far,” he added.
“5 more years of social misfortune, austerity & free trade,” wrote the Left group’s Manon Aubry.
🔴En plein scandale éthique, le Parlement 🇪🇺 approuve la réélection de Von der Leyen : 5 ans de plus de malheur social, d’austérité & libre-échange.
Mon groupe @Left_EU a voté contre à l’unanimité : nous mènerons l’opposition à son projet mortifère pour les peuples & la Planète. pic.twitter.com/ZIZIPmt5qO
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) July 18, 2024
‘5 more years’: Ursula von der Leyen says she’s ‘grateful’ for parliament’s trust
Ursula von der Leyen, who was confirmed by the European parliament by a wider margin today than five years ago, said: “I can’t begin to express how grateful I am for the trust of all MEPs that voted for me.”
Ansa is reporting that members of Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy voted against Ursula von der Leyen’s confirmation.
Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister whose party is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, congratulated von der Leyen.
Congratulations to @vonderleyen for her re-election as President of @EU_Commission. We agree on the need for a strong emphasis on the EU’s competitiveness, including the support of investments and the removal of administrative burden. Likewise security is of great importance to…
— Petr Fiala (@P_Fiala) July 18, 2024
“Times are hard, but with your courage and determination, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. We will do, together,” said the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk.
Congratulations on your reappointment, dear Ursula. Times are hard, but with your courage and determination, I’m sure you’ll do a great job. We will do, together.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) July 18, 2024
The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that Ursula von der Leyen’s “experience and leadership are invaluable in these challenging times.”
“We will continue to work together and build a stronger, more competitive & strategically autonomous Europe,” he said.
Warmest congratulations to @vonderleyen on her re-election as President of the @EU_Commission. Her experience and leadership are invaluable in these challenging times. We will continue to work together and build a stronger, more competitive & strategically autonomous Europe.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) July 18, 2024
Dick Schoof, the Dutch prime minister, congratulated von der Leyen and said “I look forward to working with you to gain more control over migration, strengthen our economy and security, and improve the prospects of the agricultural sector.”
Dear Ursula @vonderleyen, congratulations on your appointment to a second term as President of the @EU_Commission. In a time of great challenges, it’s great that Europe can count on your knowledge, experience and leadership. I look forward to working with you to gain more control…
— Dick Schoof (@MinPres) July 18, 2024
The French far right National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said that the Patriots group “will be, during this mandate, the only patriotic group to resolutely oppose the Green Deal, the Migration Pact and the dissolution of our nations.”
National Rally forms part of the new Patriots grouping, along with parties such as Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz.
Une partie d’ECR et le PPE, dont font partie les LR, ont permis, main dans la main avec les Verts et les macronistes, la reconduction d’Ursula von der Leyen.
Les @PatriotesEurope sera, au cours de ce mandat, le seul groupe patriote à s’opposer résolument au Green Deal, au Pacte…
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) July 18, 2024
