VdL Secures 2nd Term As EU COM Pres. w/Greater Margin Of Victory Than 2019

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has, as expected, secured a second five-year term in office. She secured 401 votes in favour, with 284 MEPs voting against and 15 abstaining in the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg. This margin of victory is greater than in 2019 when she gained the support of 383 MEPs with 327 against.

• Politico: "With 401 votes, the 45 or so Greens who voted for Ursula von der Leyen were indeed the caucus of MEPs that clinched her election for a second term.The final numbers, which suggest limited support from the ECR group of Giorgia Meloni, give a strong argument that the Greens swung the vote for von der Leyen."
• Von der Leyen's speech to the plenary session earlier today reiterated her support for enacting the EU Green Deal, potentially a commitment that won her enough support to get over the line.
• VdL will now begin interviewing for the 27 Commissioner positions from the candidates nominated by member states. This is a difficult process given that many member states will be pushing for high-profile portfolios. Once compiled a vote takes place in late 2024 to approve the new 'College of Commissioners'.