Ursula von der Leyen Re-Elected as European Commission President with 401 Votes

Jul 18, 2024, 12:16 PM

Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission for a second five-year term after securing 401 votes in favor, with 284 against and 15 abstentions. In her bid for re-election, von der Leyen emphasized her commitment to maintaining the EU's climate ambitions through the Green Deal, including the 2030/2050 goals, and launching a Clean Industry Deal to reduce emissions and energy prices. She also pledged to bolster Europe's defense capabilities by creating a 'European Defence Union' with flagship projects on air and cyber defense. Additionally, von der Leyen promised continued military support for Ukraine and the introduction of a European Commissioner for Defense. She stressed the importance of Europe's democratic centre holding firm. Her re-election is seen as a move towards stability amid political challenges in several key European nations.