Ursula von der Leyen, confident that she can get a new mandate as president of the European Commission
With a strong performance of her centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), incumbent European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is ready for the second part of her reappointment battle.
"Yes, I am confident, but of course I know there is a lot of work ahead. But I'm certainly confident about running for my second term," she said.
According to the most recent projection of the European Parliament, based on estimates from 23 countries, the EPP, S&D and Renew groups, which also formed the "grand coalition" in the previous legislative that decided the compromises in the European hemicycle, would cumulate 409 seats out of a total of 720 and will continue to hold control in the community legislature.
"This result is about accountability. We are the strongest party, we obtained an overwhelming majority. With that comes the responsibility to build a very strong Europe," said Ursula von der Leyen in the EP plenary.
Von der Leyen helped the socialists and liberals with the formation of a new center coalition in the EP.
"We have worked together for the past five years and had a relationship that proved to be constructive. We have built the necessary bridges and we collaborate with those who share our objectives", said the president of the Commission at the end of her mandate.
In Sunday’s elections, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) scored first place with 184 seats, leaving the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in second place with 139 and the liberal Renew group third with 80.
