Ursula von der Leyen could easily secure a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, Politico writes.
As the stars are currently aligned, there is no particular obstacle to the re-election of von der Leyen as European Commission president after her first five-year term ends, following the 2024 European Parliament elections, the portal writes, adding that it could even happen that von der Leyen will be re-elected to the top job without any serious political competition.
According to the portal, the largest party family in the European Parliament, the European People’s Party (EPP) and the German CDU/CSU, are backing the politician from their ranks. In addition, the German left-wing government led by Olaf Scholz, including the Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals, is also sending positive signals. However, French President Emmanuel Macron also has a strong voice in the matter, and it was Macron who four years ago worked to get von der Leyen elected in the European political scene.
According to Politico, given the many gestures von der Leyen has made to European socialists and greens, including the EU’s Green Deal, means it would be difficult for the left to present her with a credible and credible rival.
The question now is whether there will be any political debate and campaigning around the issue at all, or whether everything is already a foregone conclusion. At the same time, an EPP insider interviewed by the paper said von der Leyen might have a challenger from “the far left or the far right,” but no real competitor.
Von der Leyen herself has not yet said what she plans to do, and concerns are arising about a lack of democratic competition, which could complicate the rhetoric of the EU institutions on democracy, especially when the European Commission and European Council all feature members who were not elected by the public.
“The European Commission president’s likely bid for a second term is looking more like a coronation than a democratic deliberation,” wrote Politico.
