As of: February 19, 2024, 3:51 p.m
Comments
Press
Split
The incumbent EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is running for a second term in office.
© Kay Nietfeld/dpa
Defending democracy and values - these are what Ursula von der Leyen names as her most important goals in the European election campaign.
The Union is unanimously behind them.
Criticism comes from the SPD and the Greens.
Berlin - Now it's official: Ursula von der Leyen is aiming for a second term as President of the EU Commission - and has the Union's unanimous support for this.
“We must continue to defend democracy and values in Europe against the division from within and without,” the CDU politician announced as the most important goal at a joint appearance in Berlin with CDU leader Friedrich Merz.
“We have to make our center strong.
I am firmly convinced that this will work, that we have the strength to do it.
And that is the task.
And I want to continue working on that.”
The CDU board unanimously nominated von der Leyen (65) as the top candidate of the Christian Democratic party family EVP.
Support also came from the CSU.
Von der Leyen is “as Commission President the natural top candidate for the Union in the European elections,” wrote CSU boss Markus Söder on the short message service X (formerly Twitter).
Von der Leyen will “form a strong duo” with CSU deputy and EVP leader Manfred Weber.
Von der Leyen said that the most important issues in the campaign for the European elections at the beginning of June were “democracy, the rule of law that we defend and the peace that we have together”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, the AfD or other extreme forces “are standing in the way of democracy in Europe.
They want to destroy them, they want to destroy Europe.”
People must help “to ensure that their Europe is preserved” and remains a safe place in the future.
That's why it's so important to "go to the polls and strengthen the middle."
During the election campaign, she promised that she would make a strict distinction between her roles in the EU and the CDU: a Commission President must be “absolutely color blind.”
Von der Leyen for European Defense Commissioner
Regarding her main priorities, von der Leyen said that competitiveness must be aligned with the new conditions and “achieve the climate goals with the economy”.
At the same time, the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence must be used “just as we must combine them with the principles of the social market economy”.
We also have to make progress in digitalization.
Von der Leyen also supports the idea of naming a European defense commissioner.
If she were to remain Commission President, she would appoint a Defense Commissioner, the German politician said on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference.
Merz announced that he would be heavily involved in the European election campaign.
He was “completely influenced” by his time as a young member of the European Parliament - Merz was a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 1994.
Today we are dealing with “anti-European populism (..) from the left and the right, which we really have to oppose with vigor”.
The CDU parliamentary group leader assured: “I see the problems in Europe, some of which are self-inflicted and of our own making.” But he sees much more strongly the great opportunities that arise from Europe for Germany.
“And all those who want to downplay it, who even question Europe now,” the CDU will massively oppose.
With a view to the state elections in September and the federal election in 2025, Merz emphasized that he “completely rules out the possibility of us even giving a thought to working with a right-wing populist, right-wing extremist party like the AfD or even entering into a government.”
Merz wants to campaign for von der Leyen at the EPP congress
The election of the EPP candidate for the top post is scheduled to take place at a party congress on March 7th.
It is certain that von der Leyen will receive the necessary majority of votes there.
Merz announced that he would personally campaign for the most unanimous possible support for von der Leyen.
No opposing candidates are known yet.
In addition to the German CDU and CSU, the European EVP party family includes, among others, the Austrian ÖVP, the Italian Forza Italia and Spain's conservative People's Party PP.
The position of EU Commission President must be filled after the European elections.
As a rule, a candidate from the European party family that performs best in the European elections is appointed.
In surveys, the European People's Party (EPP) is clearly ahead.
There is therefore a good chance that von der Leyen can remain president.
SPD top candidate Barley: Staging unbelievable
The SPD's top candidate for the European elections, Katarina Barley, told the dpa: "The Union has no compass at all in Europe." After Merz von der Leyen constantly criticized her administration, the joint staging was unbelievable.
While the Union in Germany rules out any cooperation with the AfD, "they keep the option open in the European Parliament to enter into strategic alliances with right-wing populists and extremists" - often precisely against von der Leyen's plans such as their prestige Green Deal project.
Criticism from the Greens: Von der Leyen will not be on the ballot
MEPs from the Green Party criticized the fact that von der Leyen wants a second term as EU Commission President but is not running in the European elections.
It is irritating that it will not be found anywhere on the ballot paper, said the German Greens' delegation spokesman in the European Parliament, Rasmus Andresen.
“Forbes”: Von der Leyen is the most powerful woman in the world
As President of the EU Commission, von der Leyen has been in charge of around 32,000 employees since December 1, 2019, who, among other things, make proposals for new EU laws and monitor compliance with the European Treaties.
She also sits at the table as an EU representative at almost all major international summits such as the G7 or G20.
The US magazine “Forbes” recently named von der Leyen the “most powerful woman in the world”.
Von der Leyen's term in office so far has been primarily characterized by the Corona crisis and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Before moving to Brussels, von der Leyen was, among other things, Defense Minister under then Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU).
The mother of seven children has a doctorate in medicine and has also served as Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Labor Minister and Social Affairs Minister in Lower Saxony.
Von der Leyen was born in Brussels in 1958 - her father, the future Prime Minister of Lower Saxony Ernst Albrecht, worked for the EU at the time.
The daughter went to the European school - which is why she speaks French and English well.
dpa