The EU Commission President has a good chance of a second term.
(Photo: Reuters)
When Ursula von der Leyen was appointed President of the Commission in 2019, it was not just the Economist magazine who asked: “Does she have the right skills?” There was also great dissatisfaction in the European Parliament: the newcomer was seen as a vicarious agent for the heads of government who had hoisted her into office .
Four years later, the CDU politician has largely dispelled the doubts. The international media roll over themselves with appreciative portraits. Von der Leyen is the head of the authorities for grand gestures – and she seems to be in tune with the spirit of the times.
In the Ukraine war, she is the relentless opponent of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, holding the Europeans together on the energy and sanctions fronts. She is also one of the hardliners when it comes to dealings with China – which has contributed to her becoming the first point of contact for the US government in Europe. In the corona crisis, she announced the 800 billion euro reconstruction fund, the ultimate answer to all economic problems.
Von der Leyen just has to want it
According to the consensus in Brussels, von der Leyen cannot be given a second term. After the European elections in June 2024, the new commission will be appointed, and the woman from Lower Saxony could probably just sit in her chair – if she wants another five years. Even the Greens respect her because she enforces the European climate laws despite all the criticism from her own ranks.
Your old adversary Manfred Weber, the head of the Christian Democrats in the European Parliament, who would have liked to become head of the Commission himself in 2019, briefly attempted a revolt. But he was immediately put in his place by CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder.
The EU Commission has increased its influence
Of course there are still critics. Your officials moan about the actionism from the Berlaymont building, where the commissioners sit. Von der Leyen is accused of making decisions with a small kitchen cabinet and only involving the experts afterwards. The result is manual errors.
>>Read here: Von der Leyen and Macron in China: Good Cop, Bad Cop
But it is undeniable that the Commission was able to massively expand its influence, for example through the Corona Fund. It has also gained in visibility – not least thanks to von der Leyen’s flair for the right headline at the right moment.
The respect that the Germans are now showing stands in stark contrast to the image of EU Council President Charles Michel. The Belgian is currently struggling with an expenses scandal because he likes to fly to appointments in a private jet – even to neighboring Paris. There, too, von der Leyen has nothing to fear: she is regarded as a model of thrift.
More: Von der Leyen wants to eliminate 25 percent of the reporting requirements for companies – but the number of EU rules is growing.