Parliament re-elects Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President

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Parliament re-elects Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President

Loveworld / 4 days

July 19, 2024

2 min read

Ursula von der Leyen Re-Elected as President of the European Commission
On July 18, Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission with 401 votes in favor by the European Parliament. This secret ballot solidifies her second term as Commission President, having first been elected by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in July 2019.
With the European Parliament comprising 719 MEPs, a majority of 360 votes was required for her re-election. The final tally showed 401 MEPs supporting von der Leyen, 284 opposing her, and 22 votes either blank or invalid.
During a pre-vote debate, von der Leyen outlined her political priorities for the upcoming five-year term. Her agenda will now guide the European Commission’s work as it addresses key issues facing the EU.
Next Steps
As the newly elected Commission President, von der Leyen will formally request member states to nominate candidates for European Commissioner positions. Following the summer recess, Parliament will conduct hearings for these nominees in relevant committees. The full slate of Commissioners will need to be approved by the European Parliament.
Background
Under Article 14 of the Treaty on the European Union, the European Parliament is responsible for electing the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen has served as Commission President since 2019 and was the lead candidate for the European People’s Party (EPP) in the European elections held from June 6 to 9.