by Luiza Ilie and Gabriela Baczynska
BUCHAREST (Reuters) – The conservatives of the European People’s Party (EPP), meeting in congress in Bucharest, endorsed on Thursday by 400 votes to 89 the candidacy of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for a second term.
The former German Defense Minister, the first woman to chair the European executive, was the only candidate in the running.
During her mandate, Ursula von der Leyen had to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the formal withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU following Brexit and the consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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His renewal would come as Europe seeks to strengthen its security, with Russia waging a war on its borders and the hypothesis of a return of Donald Trump to the White House.
The leaders of the 27 EU member states must choose the next president of the Commission after the European elections, scheduled for June 6-9.
Despite the progress of far-right populist parties, the EPP, the oldest group in the European Parliament, enjoys a large lead in opinion polls.
Its main challenge lies in its ability to obtain a majority in the European Parliament against the far-right bloc.
(French version Camille Raynaud)
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