On Thursday, the German leader received 401 votes, surpassing the 360 required. There were also 284 votes against, 15 abstentions and six blank ballots

Ursula von der Leyen re-elected President of the European Commission

In a secret ballot, Ursula von der Leyen received 401 votes in favor (against 284, with 15 abstentions and 7 spoiled ballots), far exceeding the absolute majority required. This result, although seen as close by some observers, marks a clear improvement on her election in 2019, when she won the presidency by just 9 votes.

A mandate of crises

During her first term, the former German minister made her mark by managing several major crises. Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, she orchestrated a vast European recovery plan, financed by an unprecedented common debt. Following the invasion of Ukraine, von der Leyen showed unwavering support for Kiev and put in place a strategy to reduce Europe’s energy dependence on Russia.

A geopolitical vision

Long an advocate of a “Geopolitical Commission”, Ursula von der Leyen positions herself as a pillar of stability in the face of global tensions. She has addressed the challenges posed by the conflict in Gaza, disputes with Beijing and the potential return of Donald Trump. On Thursday, she pledged to significantly boost investment in the defense industry, announcing the creation of a commissioner post dedicated to this sector.

Call for a strong Europe

In a multilingual speech, delivered in English, French and German, von der Leyen pleaded for “a strong Europe” in this “period of great anxiety and uncertainty.” In so doing, she sought to respond to the varied and sometimes contradictory expectations of the different groups ahead of the vote.