Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission, securing a second five-year term following a secret ballot held on 18 July by the European Parliament.

Von der Leyen received 401 votes in favor, surpassing the required majority of 360 votes out of the 719 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). A total of 284 MEPs voted against her, while 22 cast blank or invalid votes.

In her address to the Parliament before the vote, von der Leyen outlined her political priorities for the upcoming term, focusing on key issues that will shape the future of the European Union.

Following her re-election, von der Leyen will send official invitations to member state heads of state or government, asking them to propose candidates for European Commissioner positions. The European Parliament will then conduct hearings for the nominees in the relevant committees after the summer recess. The full college of Commissioners will need to be approved by the Parliament.

Ursula von der Leyen, who has been serving as Commission President since 2019, was the lead candidate for the European People’s Party (EPP) in the June European elections. Her re-election marks a continuation of her leadership at the helm of the European Commission.

According to Article 14 of the Treaty of the European Union, the European Parliament "shall elect the President of the Commission." More details about the election process and von der Leyen's political agenda can be found in the Parliament’s press kit. (ILKHA)