Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as European Commission President

Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected by the European Parliament on Thursday as President of the European Commission for another five years, receiving 401 positive votes from MEPs at the plenary session in Strasbourg, exceeding the required 360.

In her morning speech, Ursula von der Leyen promised MEPs not to accept the “extraordinary polarization of European societies” and the fact that “demagogues and extremists are destroying” the European Union (EU). The president said she was “deeply concerned” by the “clear attempt to divide and polarize society” that was causing “anxiety and uncertainty” among citizens.

“I am convinced that the version of Europe after the Second World War, with all its imperfections and inequalities, remains the best version of history. I will never stand by and watch its dismemberment from within or without, I will never allow the extreme polarization of our societies to be accepted, I will never allow demagogues and extremists to destroy our European way of life, and I am here this Thursday, ready to lead the fight against all democratic forces in this House. [assembleia europeia]”, he decided.

Ursula von der Leyen has been President of the Commission since December 2019 and was the candidate at the top of the European People’s Party’s list in the European elections from 6 to 9 June.

Taking into account the European elections and recent party changes in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party has the largest number of seats (188), followed by the Socialists (136), the new far-right party Patriots of Europe (84), the Conservatives and Reformists (78) and the Liberals (77), the Greens (53) and the Left (46), according to the latest distribution.