The European People’s Party has confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as its lead candidate for June’s European elections, clearing the path for her to serve a second term as head of the European Commission.
“We are the party of the people and we deliver on what people care about,” Von der Leyen said at the EPP party congress in Bucharest. “Prosperity. Security. Democracy. This is what people care about in these difficult times.”
A secret ballot of EPP delegates including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar approved her bid at the meeting in the Romanian capital ahead of June elections.
However, 89 of the 489 valid votes cast in the ballot rejected her candidacy and with a total of 801 delegates in Bucharest with a right to vote, there were 300 delegates who did not vote.
The EPP group is leading in the polls and is tipped to remain the European Parliament’s biggest faction.
In a speech on Thursday, the former German defense minister promised peace, prosperity and security for Europeans, and vowed to continue supporting Ukraine, protect the rule of law, and crack down on irregular migration.
“It is us, Europeans, who decide who comes to Europe and under what circumstances,” Von der Leyen, 65k, said.
Although she enjoys support, she has caused controversy for recently pulling back on her previously unconditional support for ambitious environmental legislation, and for her reluctance to criticize Israel for the excessive loss of civilian life in Gaza.
French President Emmanuel Macron picked her as a suitable candidate in 2019, despite not running as a what is known as a Spitzenkandidaten. (European political party’s lead candidate for the European Commission.)
She will require the backing of all 27 EU leaders and the newly-elected European Parliament to secure the role.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen announces humanitarian hub in Romania
