European MPs to vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination to lead European Commission
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen’s nomination as President of the European Commission will be put before the European Parliament today.
Ms Von der Leyen needs to secure 375 votes from the 751 total European lawmakers to secure the bloc’s top position. A member of the powerful centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), she is expected to receive conformation thanks to her efforts to secure support from far right forces and the EPP already having close to a majority.
The defence minister was nominated to the position by the European Council—a body composed of the heads of state of each EU member country—and is backed by incumbent European Council Chief Donald Tusk.
Some lawmakers argue that the nomination of Ms von der Leyen was undemocratic, as it deviated from spitzenkandidat. Furthermore, many members of the Social Democrats (SDP) are arguing that Ms von der Leyen’s election would be a boon for far right forces.
If Ms von der Leyen is confirmed, it might be due to support from more conservative countries, such as Poland or Hungary. Under these circumstances, it might be difficult for her to question the failure of these countries to uphold democracy. Ms von der Leyen’s complex support and lack of experience could culminate in five years of policy stagnation.
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