EU Lawmakers Endorse Von Der Leyen's New European Commission
Reuters3 days
EU Parliament Gives Final Approval to 'Von Der Leyen II' Commission
Above: European Commission Pres. Ursula von der Leyen makes a statement at the headquarters of European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Nov. 27, 2024 Image copyright: Zhao Dingzhe/Xinhua via Getty Images
The Facts
The European Parliament voted 370 to 282, with 36 abstentions, to approve the second Ursula von der Leyen European Commission as a whole on Wednesday, months after she was re-elected for another five-year term.
Though this marks the first time since 1999 that not commissioner-designates were rejected, it also saw the new team of commissioners receive the lowest support ever recorded (54%).
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
A second von der Leyen Commission represents a necessary evolution in European politics, reflecting voter preferences and maintaining stability through broader yet still predominantly centrist ideologies. Some may claim that she should have kept hard-right out of the college, but she wisely defended democracy by opening the door only to pro-Europe right-wing figures.
Establishment-critical narrative
This new Commission certainly has some political differences and controversial candidates on all sides. However, in reality, the team is nothing more than a back-room coalition of mainstream parties. It's no surprise they received the lowest support rate in EU history as, despite a clear popular mandate for change this summer, the establishment has found a way to protect the status quo.
Left narrative
The appointment of far-right politicians to key positions in the Commission shows that the so-called firewall against extremists in Europe is an illusion. EU institutions are normalizing the far-right to a dangerous extent, a move that undermines democratic values and threatens policies on the climate, social justice, and workers' rights.