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 might Von der Leyen’s leadership style and approach to decision-making influence the stability and effectiveness of this diverse coalition?
## Interview with Political Analyst on Ursula von der Leyen’s Re-election
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing Ursula von der Leyen and her re-election as President of the European Commission. With us is Dr. [Name], a renowned political analyst specializing in EU politics. Dr. [Name], thank you for joining us.
**Dr. [Name]:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Let’s dive right in. Von der Leyen recently secured re-election with a strong majority. However, the political landscape has shifted considerably since her last term. What factors contributed to this shift, and how did Von der Leyen navigate it?
**Dr. [Name]:** Indeed, the political dynamics within the European Parliament have evolved. We see a greater openness towards the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, particularly as Italy’s Fratelli d’Italia, a member of the ECR, holds a key position within the newly appointed Commission.
Von der Leyen’s strategy has been one of inclusivity. She has managed to assemble a broad coalition encompassing greens, socialists, liberals, the EPP, and a segment of the ECR. This demonstrates her adeptness at navigating complex political alliances within the EU.
**Host:** This broader coalition includes some seemingly unlikely partnerships. Can you elaborate on the dynamics at play within these groups, particularly regarding Fratelli d’Italia’s inclusion?
**Dr. [Name]:** Yes, this is where things get interesting. While Fratelli d’Italia will ultimately vote in support of the new Commission, particularly due to Raffaele Fitto’s crucial role as Commissioner for the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan, they’ve maintained a degree of independence.
Their future support might hinge on the specific policies implemented by the Commission. The Greens are also a diverse group. While they’ve been partly appeased by Von der Leyen’s appointment of Philippe Lamberts as a special advisor on climate, a significant portion remains cautious.
**Host:** So, it seems like Von der Leyen has secured initial support but may face potential challenges maintaining unity within this diverse coalition.
**Dr. [Name]:** Absolutely. The journey ahead won’t be without its hurdles. Managing diverse ideological viewpoints, addressing internal dissent within parties like the Greens and the socialists, and navigating the potentially precarious relationship with Fratelli d’Italia will all be critical tests for Von der Leyen’s leadership in this new term.
**Host:** Thank you for providing those valuable insights, Dr. [Name]. This is certainly a pivotal moment for the European Union, and we will be closely watching how Von der Leyen manages these complexities.