The President of the European Commission, who today risks her renewal in office before the European Parliament, is attending the meeting with a fragile majority, although last-minute changes suggest she can count on support from both the Greens and the ECR.
The chairman of the European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen risks her renewal next Thursday before As European Chamber that the cordon sanitaire for the extreme right has been relaxed by excluding the Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) from the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloniwhich brings his support closer to the vote.
Von der Leyen attends the meeting with a fragile majority, although last-minute changes suggest she can count on support from both the Greens and the ECR, which she distinguishes from other far-right groups such as the Patriots for Europe from the Hungarian Prime Minister, Victor OrbánOr the Europe of sovereign nations of the ultra party Alternative for Germanywhich he sees as more pro-Russian and Eurosceptic.
In this scenario, he will try to repeat the coalition of ‘popular’, socialist and liberal parties that already supported his candidacy in 2019, which together amounts to a total of 401 seats out of a total of 720 that make up the hemicycle are more fragmented and smaller – with 27 fewer seats after Britain left the EU – than five years ago, when the German politician became the first woman to chair the Community Executive.
However, von der Leyen needs to add 361 seats to pass the rehabilitation, forcing him to do so seeking support outside the vulnerable majority of the centrist coalition and to explore options for it ECR offers to compensate for possible last-minute changes between state delegations, as its extension will be decided by secret ballot.
Not for nothing, only his own in-laws, the European People’s Party (EPP, with 188 seats)has guaranteed unwavering support to the head of the Community Administration, as social democrats and liberals make their support conditional on respect for their own priorities, while at the same time rejecting any form of cooperation with the Extremely rightwhich has been formed during this term of office three groups and add temporarily 187 seats.
Although the social democratic (136) and liberal (77) families While von der Leyen has made it clear that she will not count on their votes if she reaches a deal with the far-right groups, German politics has tried to distinguish between the three groups and has extended her hand to Meloni’s party, stating that she would count on those who declare themselves pro-European, those who oppose the regime of Russia’s Vladimir Putin and defenders of the rule of law.
TGUE error
Moreover, the appointment comes after yesterday, Wednesday, the Court of the European Union (TGUE) will rule against the European Commission lack of transparency about contract terms that Ursula von der Leyen’s management has signed agreements with major pharmaceutical companies for the purchase of vaccines against the coronavirus in the early stages of the pandemic.
The first instance ruling of the European Justice, which is subject to appeal, refers in particular to Brussels’ refusal to give MEPs and others who requested it access to the provisions on compensation and conflict declarations relevant to contract negotiators. The European Commission stressed the ‘difficult balance’ that this type of agreement requires.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
