Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated again as head of the European Commission (see video above). The major European party families agreed on this on Tuesday. Now Parliament still has to give its approval.
The CDU politician was the top candidate of her conservative European People’s Party, which won the EU elections. Before Von der Leyen took office as President of the European Commission, he served as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and Minister of Defense of Germany. The head of the committee is appointed for five years.
It is considered the most important position to be fulfilled after the European elections. Approximately 32,000 employees report to her, who, among other things, make proposals for new EU laws and monitor compliance with European treaties. The President of the Commission also sits at the table as a representative at international top conferences.
Majority required in parliament
Von der Leyen’s appointment to the EU summit is considered permanent, after which she must still be elected by a majority in the European Parliament. This vote will not take place until the third week of July and is the biggest hurdle on the way to a second term. The politician has relatively many critics in parliament. In 2019 she received nine votes more than necessary.
Von der Leyen had already announced that he wanted to continue working with the Social Democrats and the Liberals. This three-party alliance would have about 400 of the 720 MPs in parliament.
More top jobs for Kallas and Costa
The agreement reached on Tuesday also provides for liberal Estonian head of government Kaja Kallas to become the EU’s foreign policy representative and former Portuguese head of government António Costa to become president of the body of heads of state and government. Their terms of office are five (Kallas) and two and a half years (Costa).
Source: Krone
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