EU leader Ursula von der Leyen seeks second term as head of bloc’s powerful Commission
She flaunted her progressive credentials early on by pushing through a Green Deal that put the bloc at the forefront in the global fight against climate change and amounted to a sea change in EU policy.
However, with Europe’s political mood shifting recently to the right, von der Leyen acknowledged the changes. “The world is totally different compared to five years ago,” she said in her acceptance speech.
She was among the most outspoken defenders of Israel since the war erupted with the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel – even as international outrage over the Israeli offensive is growing. Her green credentials also have been sorely dented as she appeared to side with farmers during the past weeks of relentless farming protests throughout the bloc.
There has been no wavering though when it comes to Ukraine, and she has staunchly defended President Volodymyr Zelensky as his nation faces two years of Russia’s aggression. Beyond pushing for sanctions against Russia, she has equally worked to get financial aid to Kyiv and fought to open EU membership talks with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 16. Photo: AFP
Overall, it has turned the doctor and mother of seven into the most prominent EU Commission president since Frenchman Jacques Delors during the 1990s.
Even if the EPP emerges from the elections as the biggest party, it does not give her an automatic right to extend her posting. The leaders of the 27 member states must approve her, and it is part of a mix of decisions on EU top post, from EU foreign policy chief to parliament president.
After protracted haggling over such posts five years ago, von der Leyen herself came out of the blue to claim the position after receiving critical support of French President Emmanuel Macron.
With the continuing war in Ukraine and the possible election of Donald Trump as US president in November, EU leaders will unlikely be prone to experiment too much with the helm of the Commission.
The final hurdle would be approval by the EU parliament, and with the right’s rise expected to show in the June elections, it could end up being a steep hurdle.
