German conservative politician Ursula von der Leyen has been confirmed as the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) lead candidate (or so-called Spitzenkandidat) to become the next European Commission president, following June’s elections.
The 65-year-old politician, who is regarded by her political family as the face and voice of the EU in the global arena, received 400 votes in favour and 89 votes against. But more than one-third of the EPP delegates did not exercise their vote.
Those voting against her nomination include the French Republicans who have slammed her “technocratic drift” and regard her as the candidate of liberal president Emmanuel Macron.
However, her reelection was almost inevitable since she was not challenged by any opponents within her political family.
Following the June European Parliament elections, the EPP is projected to maintain its status as the largest group in the European Parliament — despite the expected increase in support for far-right and extremist parties.
“Let there be no doubt what is at stake in this election: our peaceful and united Europe is being challenged like never before by populists, nationalists and demagogues,” von der Leyen told conservative delegates in Bucharest during the EPP congress.
“The names are different but the goal is the same,” she said, referring to both far-left or far-right parties across Europe.
Elena Sánchez Nicolás