Germany’s Christian Democrats have unanimously nominated Ursula von der Leyen for the European Commission’s most crucial role. Von der Leyen, who has shattered various glass ceilings throughout her career, is currently seeking her second term as the Commission’s president.
At a meeting in Berlin on Monday, the German Christian Democrats proposed her for the position. The center-right EPP party will select its top candidate, the spitzenkandidat, at a party meeting in Bucharest, Romania, early in March.
Von der Leyen, who was previously silent about her future plans, has also been considered for the next Secretary General of NATO position in some circles. Having a medical background, she has also served as Germany’s defense minister and is the first woman to head the EU Commission.
In a press conference, von der Leyen addressed the upcoming election period’s most pressing challenges, including EU’s economic competitiveness and security. She also stressed the need to strengthen democracy within the EU and expressed her commitment to ensuring that people feel safe.
Two presidents with an EPP background have preceded Von der Leyen. Jean-Claude Junker of Luxembourg headed the Commission from 2014 to 2019, followed by Portuguese José Manuel Barroso from 2004 to 2014.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo wished von der Leyen luck in her campaign on Twitter, emphasizing the need for strong leadership and determination to safeguard citizens’ needs and strengthen Europe’s strategic competitiveness, security, and defense.
Von der Leyen has proven herself as a strong leader, successfully guiding the EU through the corona pandemic, the start of the war in Ukraine, and the energy crisis. Her chances of continuing at the head of the Commission are considered good. Markus Söder, the Chairman of the Bavarian Christian Social Union CSU, regards her as a natural choice for the top candidate due to her strong leadership in the past five years and effective crisis management.
Von der Leyen, who pursued a green agenda during her term, has also found favor with the European Parliament’s green and left-wing parties. The EU’s Fit for 55 package, which aims for a significant reduction in emissions by 2030, is part of her legacy.
However, the EU’s top appointments depend on the June European elections’ outcome and the subsequent negotiation package. While the far-right is expected to make significant gains in the summer European elections, von der Leyen’s EPP is predicted to remain the largest party.
Despite her achievements, von der Leyen has also faced criticism. She was criticized for her visit to Israel following the Hamas attack, with her message seen as unbalanced and dismissive of the Palestinians. Moreover, the EU Commission’s decision to release some of the EU funds frozen from Hungary, which was viewed as an attempt to secure Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s approval of the EU’s financial package for Ukraine, led to the European Parliament investigating the possibility of taking the Commission to the EU Court of Justice.
