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Snapshot 5:Thu, Jul 18, 2024 8:16:30 PM GMT last edited by JoseMoura

Ursula von der Leyen Reelected as European Commission President

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Above: Ursula von der Leyen reacts after being reelected to a second 5-year term as head of the European Commission during the plenary session of the European Parliament on July 18, 2024 in Strasbourg, France. Image copyright: Johannes Simon / Stringer / Getty Images News via Getty Images***PLEASE REPLACE WATERMARKED IMAGE***

The Facts

  • Following intense questioning by the European Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen was successfully re-elected as president of the European Commission in a decisive vote on Thursday.The European Parliament reelected Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday for another five-year term as president of the European Commission, 401 to 284, exceeding the required threshold of 360 votes.

  • The European Parliament elected Ms. van der Leyen with a strong majority of 401 votes, ensuring stability and continuity for the 27-member bloc. There were 284 votes opposing, 15 abstentions, and seven votes that were invalid.This comfortable result comes as she held several closed-door meetings over the past days with groups such as the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Greens.

  • Following the far right's significant gains in the European Parliament election in June, her reelection was far from guaranteed. Analysts viewed the secret ballot as a significant threat. However, she passed with a larger margin this time than she did in 2019. Von der Leyen, whose Christian Democratic Union belongs to the center-right European People's Party (EPP), called her reelection a victory for the pro-EU, pro-Ukraine and pro-rule of law camp in the European Parliament.


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