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Von der Leyen watches over Meloni, ‘I work well with her’

by AI | 24.May 2024 | Europe in brief AI

During the debate among the Spitzenkandidaten at the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen began to give some more hints about the majority she has in mind for her possible confirmation

Brussels (Belgium), 23/05/2024.- (L-R) Candidates Sandro Gozi, Terry Reintke, Walter Baier, Ursula von der Leyen and Nicolas Schmit pose ahead of the Eurovision Debate 2024 for the presidency of the European Commission, taking place in European Parliament hemicycle in Brussels, Belgium, 23 May 2024. The lead candidates for the presidency of the European Commission: Ursula von der Leyen candidate for European People's Party, Walter Baier for European Left party, Nicolas Schmit of Party of European Socialists, Sandro Gozi of European Democratic Party/Renew and Terry Reintke of European Greens take part in a final debate in Brussels ahead of the European election scheduled for 6-9 of June 2024. (Belgium, Brussels) EFE/EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Brussels (ANSA) – On the occasion of the debate between Spitzenkandidaten at the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen began to give some more hints about the majority she has in mind for a possible confirmation. A majority in which Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni might have a role. “I work well with her, she is a pro-European,” stressed the outgoing Commission president, noting how Meloni has been “clear also on the position against Putin.”

Pro-EU and pro-Ukraine: two of the three elements required by the EPP to enter the majority are fully met by Fdi, according to von der Leyen. But the candidate remained much more vague on the third condition, the respect for the rule of law. On the LGBTIQ+ community “we have a completely different approach,” were her words. The debate in the Europarliament hemicycle in Brussels was probably also the last one between the Spitzenkandidaten before the vote.

In addition to von der Leyen, Nicolas Schmit, the Socialist candidate, Terry Reintke, the Green’s leading name and Sandro Gozi, of the liberals’ Team Europe, took the stage. The Ecr group, which decided not to have its own Spitzenkandidat, did not send its representative. The far-right Id group, present at the two previous public debates with the Dane Anders Visisten, was also absent.

Von der Leyen’s opening to Meloni infuriated both the Socialists and the liberals. “The more she opens up to Meloni and the Brothers of Italy, the more we say no. If she wants to open up to them, she gives up on us,” warned Gozi. Schmit’s attack on the government was frontal. “We see what the right in Italy is doing where women’s and media rights” are “under attack,” he added (May 23).