EU Parliament Approves von der Leyen's Second Commission; Ribera Becomes First Vice President

Nov 27, 2024, 11:57 AM

The European Parliament has approved Ursula von der Leyen's new European Commission team with 370 votes in favor, 282 against, and 36 abstentions, marking the beginning of her second mandate as President. The Commission, which will start its term on December 1st, includes Teresa Ribera, former Spanish Vice President, as the First Vice President with direct power over competition policy and coordination in energy policy, and Italian ultraconservative Raffaele Fitto as vice president. Von der Leyen praised Ribera as an "authentic and committed European" who is well-prepared to modernize competition policy supporting the EU's ambitions. The approval signifies a shift towards a more right-leaning Commission with conservatives dominating, but with a thinner majority than in previous years. The Spanish People's Party (PP) voted against the approval due to Ribera's appointment, while PSOE and PNV supported it. The Commission aims to prioritize competitiveness in the face of challenges from the United States and China.