Ursula von der Leyen made her final pitch for a second term as president of the European Union’s executive commission, pledging to be a strong leader in a time of crisis and polarization. The secret ballot by the European Parliament comes after strong gains by the far right in last month’s election. Von der Leyen vowed to fight against demagogues and extremists, strengthen the EU economy, address migration and climate change, and support farmers while criticizing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s recent visit to Russia. She was boosted by the European People’s Party, but some within her own party may still vote against her. Von der Leyen has been praised for her role during the COVID-19 pandemic but has faced criticism for vaccine negotiations. European Union leaders also approved Antonio Costa of Portugal as European Council president and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas as the top diplomat. The European Court ruled that the commission did not provide enough transparency in COVID-19 vaccine purchase agreements. As von der Leyen seeks reelection, the vote will determine the future direction of the EU amid crises such as climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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