Staff Report
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set to face one of the most critical tests of her political career as she prepares to address the European Parliament in a high-stakes session aimed at securing her second term. With support fragmented across political groups, von der Leyen will need to carefully navigate competing interests and ideological divisions to win the necessary majority.
Von der Leyen, who has led the Commission since 2019, is expected to lay out her vision for the next five years—emphasizing unity, security, economic competitiveness, and the EU’s green and digital transitions. Her speech will also likely address migration, defense integration, and the EU’s global role amid growing geopolitical tensions.
However, her path to reappointment is far from assured. While she enjoys backing from her own center-right European People’s Party (EPP), she needs additional support from liberal, centrist, and possibly green or socialist lawmakers. Many in those camps have raised concerns over the EPP’s recent alignment with far-right positions in some member states, as well as von der Leyen’s stance on issues like climate policy rollbacks and border controls.
Critics argue that her leadership has become too politically expedient, while supporters credit her with steering the EU through crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, energy shocks, and the war in Ukraine. Her ability to strike a balance between pragmatism and ambition will be key to persuading lawmakers.
The upcoming parliamentary vote will determine whether von der Leyen retains her position at the helm of the European Union’s executive body, or if the bloc must begin the politically complex process of finding a replacement. Either outcome will have significant implications for the EU’s future direction.
