2nd Term as Commission President from 2024 to 2029 – Ursula von der Leyen: “This is a strong sign of trust”
After the election of Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament on July 16, 2024, another top EU position was filled following the European elections in June 2024. Ursula von der Leyen (European People’s Party, briefly: EPP) was elected on July 18, 2024, with 401 votes to 284 votes from the Members of the European Parliament. The politician from Germany thus begins her second term as President of the European Commission for the term from 2024 to 2029.
Commission President von der Leyen emphasized: “I want to express my sincere gratitude to the majority of the European Parliament for their trust.” This is a strong sign, von der Leyen stated. “I will now focus on assembling the team of commissioners for the next 5 years. In the coming weeks, I will ask the heads of state and government to name their candidates.”
Background: Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen was born in 1958 in Brussels and has been the first woman at the head of the European Commission since December 2019. The doctor with a doctorate from Germany served as Minister for Family Affairs from 2005 to 2009 and as Minister for Labor and Social Affairs from 2009 to 2013. Since 2013, she has led the Ministry of Defense in Germany. From November 2010 to November 2019, she was also the Deputy Federal Chair of the CDU (Christian Democratic Union). She is married and has 7 children.
Background: The Election of the President of the European Commission
Upon the proposal of the heads of state and government of the 27 EU Member States in the European Council, the European Parliament elects the President of the European Commission, taking into account the results of the elections to the European Parliament. To be elected, the candidate needs an absolute majority from the Members of the European Parliament. After the subsequent nomination of the other Commission members, the European Commission as a whole must go through a confirmation vote by the European Parliament and is then appointed by the European Council with a qualified majority. Only upon this appointment does the new Commission President take office.
The term of office corresponds to the election periods of the European Parliament, usually 5 years. The President of the European Commission sets out the guidelines for the work of the Commission and is responsible for ensuring effective and collegial organization within the Commission.