The European Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday, July 16th, marking the beginning of a crucial week. Nearly a month after the elections, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will gather in session in Brussels until Friday. Following the electoral outcomes, the focus shifts to forming the EU’s executive branch. Ursula von der Leyen is seeking re-election as President of the European Commission, with intense negotiations for key positions expected to continue until the last moment.
Ursula von der Leyen was scheduled to attend the NATO summit in Washington last week. However, she chose to remain in Brussels to focus on her potential re-election, which is set for Thursday, July 18.
The German leader has been tirelessly engaging in phone calls, meetings, and discussions to secure the support of at least 361 MEPs, according to Julien Chavanne of RFI’s Europe service. She is striving to ensure her reappointment, reaching beyond her coalition for support. Positions such as vice-presidents, commissioners, and committee chairs serve as bargaining chips in this effort.
The confirmation vote is scheduled for 11:00 UTC, following a morning debate. To be re-elected as head of the European executive, Ursula von der Leyen, 65, must secure at least 361 votes out of 720 MEPs.
In this extensive bargaining process, the political weight of each faction is significant, especially that of the far-right. Despite their strengthened position in the recent elections, European nationalist right-wing groups remain divided.
Contrary to the unification hoped for by Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, the far-right now consists of two new groups in Brussels. The Patriots for Europe, led by Frenchman Jordan Bardella, holds 84 seats, while Europe of Sovereign Nations, mainly comprising Germany’s AfD members, holds 24 seats. This latter group is the smallest in the European Parliament.
The new Parliament will convene this morning for an initial vote on the presidency of the European Parliament, which is expected to remain with Maltese favorite Roberta Metsola.
Hungarian nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country assumed the rotating EU presidency on July 1, will not address the 720 MEPs. His speech has been postponed to autumn, officially due to the numerous procedural votes scheduled.