The European Parliament is back on Tuesday, July 16. Almost a month after the elections, MEPs are in session in Brussels until Friday. After the choice of the ballot boxes, it is time to compose the EU executive. Ursula von der Leyen is running for the presidency of the Commission, but the battle for key positions will be played out until the last moment.
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Ursula von der Leyen was due to attend at the NATO summit in Washington last week, but the President of the European Commission preferred to remain in Brussels, in view of her potential re-election to her post on Thursday 18 July.
Phone calls, coffees, meetings… The German leader has had a series of meetings to try to convince at least 361 MPs to vote for her, reports Julien Chavannefrom RFI’s Europe service. The outgoing president is doing everything to ensure her reappointment, beyond her own coalition. And the bargaining chip is positions: vice-presidents, commissioners, committee presidents…
This confirmation vote will take place at 11:00 UTC following a debate in the morning. To be reappointed at the head of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen65, must now obtain at least 361 votes from the 720 MEPs.
Read alsoEuropean elections: Ursula von der Leyen, a continuity already mapped out at the Commission?
The crucial vote of far-right groups
In this great bargaining, the political weight of each camp weighs, in particular that of the extreme right. If they are released strengthened by the last electionsEuropean nationalist rights are undermined by divisions.
Instead of uniting, as the Italian woman had hoped Giorgia Meloni, The far right now has two new groups in Brussels. The Patriots for Europe, led by the French Jordan Bardellahas 84 MEPs, and the Europe of Sovereign Nations, composed mainly of the German AfD, has 24. This is the smallest group present in the European Parliament.
Read alsoIn the European Parliament, will the cordon sanitaire against the extreme right give way?
The new hemicycle will meet this morning for a first vote, that of the presidency of the European Parliament, which should remain in the hands of the Maltese Roberta Metsolafavorite.
The Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister, Viktor Orbanwhose country has held the rotating EU presidency since July 1, will not address the 720 MEPs. His speech has been postponed until the fall, officially because of the many procedural votes planned.