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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How will von der Leyen navigate the challenges of maintaining unity within such a diverse coalition, considering the differing viewpoints of the Greens, Socialists, and ECR?
## Interview with Dr. Alessandro Bianchi
Today we’re joined by Dr. Alessandro Bianchi, an expert on European politics, to discuss the upcoming vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s new European Commission. Dr. Bianchi, welcome to the show.
**Dr. Bianchi:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** Ursula von der Leyen secured a second term as President of the European Commission in July. How will the composition of the new Commission reflect the shifting political landscape of Europe?
**Dr. Bianchi:** Heron, this new Commission will be a fascinating reflection of the current European political climate. We’re seeing a broader coalition than perhaps many anticipated, with von der Leyen successfully building a majority that includes greens, socialists, liberals, the EPP, and even a faction of the ECR.
**Interviewer:** The inclusion of the ECR, a grouping containing Giorgia Meloni’s Fratelli d’Italia, has raised eyebrows. Is this a significant departure from previous coalitions?
**Dr. Bianchi:** Absolutely. Historically, the ECR has been positioned on the fringes of the European political mainstream. Von der Leyen’s move signals a shift towards pragmatism, prioritizing a functioning majority over ideological purity. The support from Fratelli d’Italia for Fitto, who is both Commissioner for the Pnrr and Vice-president, comes with certain caveats – they reserve the right to back the Commission on a case-by-case basis depending on future policies.
**Interviewer:** Von der Leyen also strategically engaged the Greens. How did she manage to secure their support?
**Dr. Bianchi:** She appointed former Green group leader Philippe Lamberts as a special advisor on climate. This brought a portion of the Greens on board, particularly the German and Dutch delegations. Meanwhile, the Italian, Belgian, and French delegations remain divided.
**Interviewer:** This seems like a carefully calibrated balancing act. What are the potential challenges von der Leyen might face with such a diverse coalition?
**Dr. Bianchi:** Maintaining this fragile unity will be von der Leyen’s biggest challenge. Dissatisfaction from within the Green and Socialist ranks is palpable. The Greens feel only partially included, and some socialists remain uncomfortable with the ECR alignment. Navigating these internal tensions while delivering on her ambitious agenda will be no easy feat.
**Interviewer:** Dr. Bianchi, thank you for offering your insightful analysis of this complex political puzzle.
