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Brussels – Ursula von der Leyen received the green light for a second term as President of the European Commission in Strasbourg on Thursday. She found support from the Flemish parties Groen and N-VA, but not from the French-speaking PS and Ecolo. However, this does not mean that the difference between supporting and not supporting is a language issue.
Von der Leyen could, of course, count on broad support within her own EPP, to which CD&V belongs. With her focus on prosperity, border control, and the defense of values and freedoms, she sets “the right priorities,” according to Wouter Beke. The two elected representatives of Vooruit, who sit in the second-largest faction in the European Parliament, also gave Von der Leyen the green light.
Their French-speaking faction members Elio Di Rupo and Estelle Ceulemans (PS) abstained. They want to determine their final position only with the presentation of the Commission’s overall project after the summer recess because Von der Leyen has provided too few answers for their taste, among others on social issues and investments.
In the liberal Renew faction, Hilde Vautmans (Open VLD) heard a speech “full of ambition and leadership.” Among the French-speaking Renew members, both Sophie Wilmès, Olivier Chastel, and Benoit Cassart (MR) as well as Yvan Verougstraete (Engagés) supported Von der Leyen’s candidacy.
Von der Leyen also needed votes from the greens and the conservative-nationalist ECR. She found them among others from N-VA members Johan Van Overtveldt, Assita Kanko, and Kris Van Dijck, who “conditionally” supported her candidacy.
The proposed migration policy makes Sara Matthieu (Groen) “critical,” but she still gave the Commission President “the benefit of the doubt.” Saskia Bricmont (Ecolo) distanced herself from the majority of her faction and voted against.
The far-right Vlaams Belang lamented that von der Leyen’s reappointment runs counter to the results of the European elections and voted against. Also, on the other side of the political spectrum, the far-left PVDA did not grant Von der Leyen any grace.
(07/18/2024)