By Laura Gozzi, BBC Information
Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as president of the European Fee following a secret poll amongst MEPs.
She secured the backing of 401 Members of the European Parliament at a vote in Strasbourg on Thursday – 41 greater than she wanted.
Ms von der Leyen, of the centre-right European Folks’s Get together (EPP), was first elected in 2019.
She’s going to now serve one other 5 years on the helm of the EU.
“You possibly can think about it is a very emotional and particular second for me,” she mentioned after the vote, hailing the consequence as an indication of sturdy confidence.
Talking to reporters, she added that a very powerful factor for Europe was to defend its democracy “which is underneath assault from inside and from outdoors”.
Her remarks echoed a speech to MEPs earlier on Thursday, during which she spoke out in opposition to what she known as the “demagogues and extremists” that “destroy our European lifestyle” and promised to collaborate with “all of the democratic forces” within the Parliament.
Forward of the vote, Ms von der Leyen additionally mentioned she would champion European defence with elevated army spending, and dedicated to sticking to local weather targets.
“The final 5 years have proven what we are able to do collectively. Allow us to do it once more. Allow us to make the selection of energy,” she mentioned.
Ms von der Leyen’s nomination was permitted at an EU leaders’ summit final month, though not all of them backed her.
There was fast reward for her re-election from Germany’s Olaf Scholz, who mentioned it was a “clear signal of our skill to behave within the European Union, particularly in tough occasions”. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof mentioned it was good that Europe may “rely in your data, expertise and management in these occasions of nice challenges”.
Past the EU, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned he regarded ahead to “working carefully” with Ms von der Leyen.
The opposite two huge EU jobs might be crammed later this 12 months by António Costa, a former Socialist prime minister in Portugal, who will head the European Council, which represents the 27 EU governments; and by Estonia’s Kaja Kallas who has stepped down as prime minister to change into the EU’s overseas coverage chief.
Earlier than Thursday’s vote Ms Meloni succeeded in profitable the help of her personal centre-right European Folks’s Get together (EPP), the Socialist & Democrats, the liberal Renew and Greens, however not all of their members backed her.
She acknowledged that the Greens had performed an instrumental function in securing a majority, saying she was “very grateful” for his or her help.
Ms von der Leyen was opposed by 284 MEPs.
Far-right groupings, together with the largest and newly fashioned Patriots for Europe, had been vehemently in opposition to her profitable a second time period.
Members of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni far-right Brothers of Italy (FdI) social gathering revealed that they had not supported Ms von der Leyen.
“Voting for her would have meant going in opposition to our rules,” mentioned FdI MEP Nicola Procaccini.
Ms Meloni, who at occasions has appeared near Ms von der Leyen, has change into more and more lukewarm about her in latest weeks.
In June, she voiced her discontent on the exclusion of her right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group from a dialogue amongst EU leaders on who needs to be awarded the EU’s high jobs.
She later abstained from the vote on Ms von der Leyen’s nomination.
The Fee president didn’t reply instantly when requested by reporters in regards to the lack of help from Meloni-affiliated MEPs.
Nevertheless, she mentioned the consequence confirmed she had been proper to deal with “bundling the democratic forces collectively” and to supply to work along with “all those that are pro-Europe, pro-Ukraine and pro-rule of regulation”.
Addressing the prospect of a possible Donald Trump victory in November’s US presidential election, which may usher in a much less Europe-friendly White Home, Ms von der Leyen mentioned that the EU’s “dependencies” wanted to be decreased.
“We’ll work with mates and allies however… we’re additionally constructing our personal energy,” she mentioned.