Power Struggle in the EU - Few Alternatives to von der Leyen

Acute crisis meetings await in the EU if the votes are not enough for Ursula von der Leyen. The drama is great when the German woman puts her career at stake in a single decisive vote.

» Published: July 16 2024

Power Struggle in the EU - Few Alternatives to von der Leyen
Photo: Jean-Francois Badias/AP/TT

Acute crisis meetings await in the EU if the votes are not enough for Ursula von der Leyen.

The drama is great when the German puts her career on the line in a single decisive vote.

When the newly elected EU Parliament votes on Thursday on whether von der Leyen should continue as President of the EU Commission, the margins are small. The number of members on the edge has increased to both the right and the left.

Her closest supporters within the conservative party group EPP are pushing hard for the need for stability in the EU, considering Russia's war and the upcoming presidential election in the USA.

A no to von der Leyen is portrayed as a victory for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and like-minded individuals, who want a more withdrawn Commission.

Right or more right?

On paper, there is a sufficient alliance behind von der Leyen with members from EPP, liberal RE, and social democratic S&D. Even The Greens are leaning towards giving their support.

Members from mainly S&D and The Greens are still in a tricky situation. Supporting von der Leyen also means supporting a significant dose of right-wing politics, for example, on migration and economy.

If they do not support her, they risk getting even more right-wing politics under another Commission President instead – especially if the latter chooses to seek support from the far-right.

Crisis meeting in the summer

If von der Leyen does not get a yes from at least 361 members, the EU countries' heads of state and government will be forced to hold a crisis meeting within a month to find another candidate for the job.

No obvious alternative exists. The former head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has been frequently mentioned over the years – but does not belong to the dominant EPP and will also turn 77 this autumn.

Right-wing leaders like Croatian Andrej Plenkovic or Greek Kyriakos Mitsotakis have been discussed, but will hardly have an easier time getting elected than von der Leyen.

Perhaps EU Parliament's Maltese President Roberta Metsola can be popular enough – but has never even sat in a government.

Ursula von der Leyen (born 1958) had a background as a family, labor market, and defense minister in Germany when she was elected as the new President of the EU Commission in 2019, with a narrow margin of just nine votes.

Since then, she has emerged as the EU's obvious front figure, frequently applauded for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's war in Ukraine. Different political sides have simultaneously criticized her for doing both too much and too little in climate policy and for being both too hard and too yielding when it comes to member states' handling of democracy and fundamental values.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Russia Not on US Tariff
2 MIN READ

Russia Not on US Tariff List Despite Broad Global Reach

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women
1 MIN READ

Gaza Blockade Endangers Pregnant Women and Newborns, Says Save the Children

Search for Missing MH370 Paused
1 MIN READ

Search for Missing MH370 Paused Until Year-End, Says Malaysia

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze
1 MIN READ

17 Tesla Cars Set Ablaze in Rome; Italy Boosts Security Measures

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Israeli Strikes in Syria Leave Nine Civilians Dead, Tensions Rise

US Calls for UN Official's
1 MIN READ

US Calls for UN Official's Removal Over Alleged Anti-Semitic Views

Putin's Envoy Meets US Officials
1 MIN READ

Putin's Envoy Meets US Officials at White House for Talks

Over 20 Palestinians Killed in
1 MIN READ

Over 20 Palestinians Killed in Israeli Air Strikes on Gaza Strip

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350
1 MIN READ

Slovakia Approves Culling of 350 Bears After Fatal Attack

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Israeli Air Strikes in Syria Leave Four Dead, Hit Military Sites

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of
1 MIN READ

Mike Waltz's Extensive Use of Signal Raises Security Concerns

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Pledges Support for Greenland During Challenging Times

Elon Musk Expected to Exit
2 MIN READ

Elon Musk Expected to Exit White House Role Soon, Sources Say

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's
2 MIN READ

NATO Faces Silence on Turkey's Journalist Arrest Before Key Meeting

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges
1 MIN READ

Federal Court Dismisses Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Adams

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences
1 MIN READ

Congo President Commutes Death Sentences for Americans in Coup Plot

Hungary Plans ICC Exit as
2 MIN READ

Hungary Plans ICC Exit as Netanyahu Visits Budapest

Putin and Trump Not Meeting
1 MIN READ

Putin and Trump Not Meeting in Saudi Arabia, Kremlin Confirms

Ben-Gvir's Temple Mount Visit Sparks
2 MIN READ

Ben-Gvir's Temple Mount Visit Sparks Regional Condemnation

Greece Plans 25 Billion Euro
1 MIN READ

Greece Plans 25 Billion Euro Boost to Defense by 2036

Houthi Movement Reports Fatalities in
1 MIN READ

Houthi Movement Reports Fatalities in Alleged US Airstrikes in Yemen

Sperm Whale Found Dead on
1 MIN READ

Sperm Whale Found Dead on Danish Beach Near Aarhus

Argentina Opens Secret Files on
1 MIN READ

Argentina Opens Secret Files on Nazi Refugees and Their Financiers

Suspected Worst Rapist in UK
1 MIN READ

Suspected Worst Rapist in UK History Faces New Allegations

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford Wins
2 MIN READ

Liberal Judge Susan Crawford Wins Key Wisconsin Supreme Court Election

Myanmar Junta Announces Ceasefire to
2 MIN READ

Myanmar Junta Announces Ceasefire to Aid Earthquake Relief Efforts

Netanyahu Announces New Security Corridor
3 MIN READ

Netanyahu Announces New Security Corridor Through Gaza Strip

Frederiksen Visits Greenland as Concerns
2 MIN READ

Frederiksen Visits Greenland as Concerns Over US Interest Persist

China Wraps Up Military Drills
2 MIN READ

China Wraps Up Military Drills Near Taiwan, Raising Regional Tensions

White House Evaluates Economic Impact
2 MIN READ

White House Evaluates Economic Impact of Potential Greenland Acquisition

WWII Codebreaker Charlotte Webb, Honored
2 MIN READ

WWII Codebreaker Charlotte Webb, Honored by Queen, Dies at 101

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Eyes Washington
1 MIN READ

Russian Envoy Dmitrijev Eyes Washington Visit for Key Talks

Four Killed in Russian Drone
1 MIN READ

Four Killed in Russian Drone Attack on Ukrainian City Kryvyj Rih

Cory Booker's 25-Hour Senate Speech
3 MIN READ

Cory Booker's 25-Hour Senate Speech Sets Record in Trump Protest

Trump Adviser Faces Scrutiny Over
2 MIN READ

Trump Adviser Faces Scrutiny Over Private Email Use in Security Role

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential
1 MIN READ

Zelenskyj Seeks Support for Potential Peacekeeping Forces in Ukraine

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit
1 MIN READ

Denmark Sets 18-Year Age Limit for High-Alcohol Drinks

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict
2 MIN READ

Le Pen Awaits Appeal Verdict on 2027 Election Ban Next Summer

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found
1 MIN READ

Fourth Missing US Soldier Found Dead in Lithuania

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine
1 MIN READ

Russian Advances in Eastern Ukraine Slow for Fourth Month