EU’s Ursula von der Leyen asks for five more years ahead of crunch vote

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told the European Parliament she will focus on defence, security and climate policy if she is given a second term, ahead of a crunch vote in Strasbourg.

“Let us make the choice of strength,” she told the Parliament, promising a “European Democracy Shield”.

Ms von der Leyen, who has had the job of Commission president since 2019, will need 361 votes in the 720-seat Parliament to secure another five years in the job.

Support from her own centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats and the liberal Renew should give her enough votes.There is no other candidate standing, but what makes the vote potentially tricky is that it is being held in secret – so MEPs can cast ballots without following their party line.

Ms von der Leyen attempted to address the concerns of each political group in a wide-ranging speech ahead of the vote, in which she made a series of policy pledges.

Reaching out to Green MEPs, she said she wanted the EU to stick to climate targets, and vowed that under her leadership the EU would introduce a 90% greenhouse gas emission-reduction target for 2040.

In a a nod to her own centre-right European People’s Party, she said she would launch common defence projects, including a European air shield. She also appeared to address right-wing concerns by promising to strengthen’s Europe’s borders by tripling the number of border guards.

There were also references to social rights, affordable housing and the need to end the “bloodshed in Gaza”, addressing the concerns of many MEPs on the left.

Ms von der Leyen elicited sustained applause when she condemned Hungary’s Viktor Orban for his recent trip to Moscow.

“This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” she told MEPs, without naming the Hungarian leader.

She wrapped up her speech by calling for the Parliament to vote for her again: “History will keep knocking on Europe’s door, and the need for Europe will be stronger than ever.”

Whether the speech was successful in securing Ms von der Leyen a majority will become known later on Thursday. (BBC News)

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