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.
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What are the potential risks and benefits of the broad coalition supporting Ursula von der Leyen, considering the conditional support from some factions like the Socialists and Fratelli d’Italia?
## Interview with Political Analyst on Ursula von der Leyen’s Re-Election
**Today we are joined by Dr. Marco Rossi, a leading expert in European politics, to discuss Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as European Commission President.**
**Dr. Rossi, Ursula von der Leyen secured her second term in July. How significant is this re-election considering the political landscape has shifted considerably since then?**
**Dr. Rossi:**
Von der Leyen’s re-election was a testament to her ability to navigate a fragmented European Parliament. Securing 401 votes, she successfully built a broad coalition spanning the Greens, Socialists, Liberals, EPP, and even a portion of the ECR group.
However, the political landscape has indeed been in flux. Her new college of commissioners is facing a vote today, and the alliances she forged earlier in the year are facing scrutiny.
**We’ve seen some murmurs of discontent among certain factions within these groups. Can you elaborate on those concerns?**
**Dr. Rossi:**
Indeed. The Socialists are unequivocally stating that their support is conditional, and they do not consider the ECR, specifically Fratelli d’Italia’s inclusion, part of the pro-European front.
The Greens are also divided, with some factions wary of collaborating too closely with the Commission.
The EPP, while publicly supportive, has emphasized that its endorsement only extends to a specific portion of the ECR, namely, the Brothers of Italy contingent.
This delicate balancing act for Von der Leyen highlights the challenges she will face in holding this broad coalition together.
**You mentioned Fratelli d’Italia. Can you shed some light on their position and its potential impact on the future of the Commission?**
Dr. Rossi:
Fratelli d’Italia, while supporting the Commission today, has communicated a willingness to reassess its stance depending on future policy decisions. This conditional support underscores the fragility of the current arrangement.
Should the Commission enact policies that run counter to Fratelli d’Italia’s interests, their continued backing could be jeopardized, potentially destabilizing von der Leyen’s majority.
**Looking ahead, what are the major challenges and opportunities von der Leyen faces in her second term?**
**Dr. Rossi:**
Von der Leyen must balance the diverse interests of her broad coalition while addressing pressing issues like the ongoing energy crisis, the war in Ukraine, and the EU’s green transition. Maintaining unity and consensus within her coalition will be paramount for effectively tackling these challenges.
On the positive side, this diverse coalition offers the potential for innovative policy solutions and a more inclusive European agenda.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether von der Leyen can successfully navigate these complexities and solidify her legacy as a unifying force within the EU.
