Today Ursula von der Leyen goes to the count in Strasbourg with a fateful number in her head: 401. These are the votes with which she was re-elected president of the European Commission on 18 July last, by secret ballot. Its new college of commissioners will be voted on in plenary, by simple majority and by open vote. However, the European political landscape has undergone significant changes in recent months. One of the most important was the openness towards the ECR group, the European Conservatives and Reformists, of which Fratelli d’Italia is part, which will vote in its support since Fitto is both commissioner of the Pnrr and vice-president.
The president of the EU Commission has confidence and manages to include greens, socialists, liberals, EPP and ECR in her new majority. The Socialists are clear in declaring that the majority includes the Greens but not ECR. The Greens feel included in the coalition, but only partially. The EPP, then, through its group leader Manfred Weber, speaks of a European majority that goes “from the Greens to the ECR”, specifying that the pro-European front includes only a part of the ECR, or Brothers of Italy. In reality, Giorgia Meloni’s party will give its vote to today’s package, reserving the right to give its support in the future depending on the measures that will be launched by the new Commission.
Von der Leyen‘s other strategic move concerns the greens: he has in fact appointed former group leader Philippe Lamberts as special advisor on climate. At that point, half of the Green group, around twenty MEPs led by the German and Dutch delegations, chose to support the new Commission. The Italian, Belgian and French delegations instead opt for no. Difficult situation even among socialists. The group, led by the Spanish Iratxe García Pérez, decided to support the new Commission, taking a step back from the no to Raffaele Fitto, who many of them had described as an “exponent of a post-fascist force”. The Italian and Spanish delegations lead the yes front for von der Leyen, while the Germans, French and Belgians are divided between abstentions and votes against.
In Italy, meanwhile, the Democratic Party’s protests over the nomination of Raffaele Fitto as executive vice president have dissolved into a soap bubble. “Italians understand that having an executive vice president of the European Commission, a role never held before by Italy, with strategic delegations, is a great opportunity and reflects Italy’s role in Europe”, said Giorgia Meloni. According to breaking news reported by Ansa, however, the German SPD has decided to abstain. “For the first time in the history of EU institutions, a representative of a post-fascist party is about to obtain a leadership position. This was only possible because the President of the Commission proposed Raffaele Fitto to the prominent position of Vice-President of the Commission, even if the family of his party, that is Ecr, did not vote for his nomination”, wrote the SPD delegation to the European Chamber, MEP Rene Repasi, in a note.
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What are the main obstacles Ursula von der Leyen faces in getting her new European Commission approved?
## Interview with Political Analyst on Ursula von der Leyen’s Re-Election
**Host:** Joining us today is Dr. Sofia Rossi, a leading expert on European politics. Dr. Rossi, thank you for being here.
**Dr. Rossi:** My pleasure.
**Host:** Ursula von der Leyen is set to have her new Commission voted on in Strasbourg today. She secured re-election in July but the political landscape has shifted since then. What are the complexities she faces in getting her new team approved?
**Dr. Rossi:** Absolutely. Von der Leyen’s re-election was a clear victory, but building a coalition for her Commission is proving trickier. Historically, European Commission approval has been straightforward. However, the rise of right-leaning parties and internal divisions within existing groups, especially the Greens and Socialists, add new layers to this process.
**Host:** There is talk about the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, of which Fratelli d’Italia is a part, potentially supporting Von der Leyen. Can you elaborate on this?
**Dr. Rossi:** It’s interesting. VT is showing a move towards including ECR in the broader pro-European majority. Italy’s Fratelli d’Italia, with Raffaele Fitto as a commissioner and vice-president, will likely vote in favor. However, this support is conditional on future policies, showcasing how intricate this political maneuvering is.
**Host**: What about the Greens and Socialists? Their positions seem less homogeneous.
**Dr. Rossi:** Absolutely. The Greens are partially on board thanks to von der Leyen’s appointment of Philippe Lamberts, former group leader, as a special advisor on climate. However, divisions remain within their group.
Among Socialists, some view the inclusion of ECR components like Fratelli d’Italia as unacceptable. Others are ready to prioritize supporting the overall Commission, especially given Fitto’s involvement in the PNRR.
**Host**: So, a mixed bag then. What can we expect from the vote today?
**Dr. Rossi:** It’s likely to be tight. Von der Leyen has successfully secured enough support from diverse groups. However, abstentions and even votes against are possible, reflecting the internal challenges within parties like the Socialists and Greens. The outcome will depend on how these internal tensions play out during the vote.
**Host**: Dr. Rossi, thank you for shedding light on this complex political situation.
**Dr. Rossi:** My pleasure.
