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 rewards of the ECR’s, particularly Fratelli d’Italia’s, decision to support Von der Leyen’s Commission?
## Interview with a Political Analyst on Ursula von der Leyen’s New Commission
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. We’re discussing the upcoming vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s new European Commission. Joining us is [Alex Reed Name], a political analyst specializing in European politics. [Alex Reed Name], thanks for being here.
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me.
**Host:** Von der Leyen seems confident she has the votes for her Commission. This new majority is quite interesting, with Greens, Socialists, Liberals, EPP and ECR all seemingly part of it.
**Alex Reed:** Indeed, the formation of this majority is fascinating. It’s a delicate balance, and the voting will reveal just how strong her support actually is. While Von der Leyen secured a majority of votes for her reelection, the landscape is shifting, making the composition of her college of commissioners crucial.
**Host:** You mentioned a delicate balance.
We see divisions within the Socialist and Green parties. Can you elaborate?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. The Socialist commitment is ambiguous. While they ultimately decided to support the Commission, many members are uneasy about the inclusion of Raffaele Fitto, representing the ECR, describing him as “post-fascist.” Within the Green party, there’s a split: while some factions support Von der Leyen, citing her appointment of Philippe Lamberts as a special climate advisor, others remain skeptical, particularly the Italian, Belgian, and French delegations.
**Host:** And the ECR, particularly Fratelli d’Italia, voting in favor seems unexpected. What explains this?
**Alex Reed:**
This move reflects a strategic calculation on the part of Fratelli d’Italia. By supporting Fitto’s appointment, they secure influence within the Commission and gain a voice in EU decision-making.
However, their support isn’t unconditional. They will closely scrutinize the Commission’s policies and are prepared to withdraw their backing if their interests are not served.
**Host:** This new Commission is shaping up to be incredibly diverse. What challenges and opportunities does this diversity bring?
**Alex Reed:**
That’s an excellent point.
Von der Leyen’s diverse coalition presents both challenges and opportunities.
On the one hand, it allows for a broader range of viewpoints and potentially leads to more nuanced and comprehensive policy-making.
However, it also
raises the risk of internal conflict and fragmentation, as groups with competing priorities grapple for influence.
Ultimately, the success of this Commission will depend on its ability to navigate these complexities and forge consensus among its diverse members.
**Host:**
This is certainly shaping up to be a defining moment for the EU. [Alex Reed Name], thank you for providing your valuable insights into this evolving political landscape.
**Alex Reed:**
My pleasure.
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