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, i.e. Ecr, did not vote for his nomination”, wrote the SPD delegation to the European Chamber, MEP Rene Repasi, in a note.
#Ursula #bis #socialists #split #French #Germans #Fitto #Tempo
What are the main political challenges Ursula von der Leyen faces in forming her new College of Commissioners?
## Interview with a Political Analyst on Ursula von der Leyen’s New Commission
**Interviewer:** We’re here today to discuss the voting on Ursula von der Leyen’s new college of commissioners happening in Strasbourg. Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for joining us. Can you shed some light on the political landscape leading up to this vote?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Absolutely. While von der Leyen secured re-election as President of the European Commission with a solid majority back in July [[1](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/story-von-der-leyen-commission_en)], the composition of her new college has been fiercely debated. The European political landscape has shifted significantly, with groups like the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists) gaining more influence. Notably, Fratelli d’Italia, a member of the ECR, will be voting in favor of the new commission due to Raffaele Fitto’s appointment as commissioner for the Pnrr and vice-president.
**Interviewer:** That’s interesting. So, it seems like there’s a level of coalition-building happening. What are some of the key dynamics between the different factions?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** It’s indeed a complex web of alliances. Von der Leyen is aiming for a broad coalition, including greens, socialists, liberals, EPP, and even a portion of the ECR. However, there are internal divisions within these groups. For example, the Socialists are officially stating that their support includes the Greens but not the ECR [[1](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/story-von-der-leyen-commission_en)]. The Greens are only partially supportive, indicating a lack of full consensus.
**Interviewer:** This definitely highlights the challenges of forging consensus in the European Parliament. What about the opposition?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** While the majority seems to be leaning towards von der Leyen’s new College, there are certainly voices of dissent. Some socialists, particularly from Germany, France, and Belgium, are hesitant to support the inclusion of the ECR, considering Fitto’s political affiliation with Fratelli d’Italia.
**Interviewer:** What are the implications of this vote for the future of the European Commission?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** This vote
will be a significant indicator of von der Leyen’s ability to navigate these complex political landscapes and build consensus across different ideological spectrums. The success or failure of her new commission hinges on her ability to maintain this fragile coalition and address the diverse interests of the member states.
**Interviewer:** Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for providing these insightful comments.
