Information & Politics•18 Jul ’24 17:31Authors: Mark van Harreveld and BNR Net Editors
Present European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected and can run for a second five-year time period, in line with a vote among the many 720 members of the European Parliament. 401 MEPs voted in favour of her place, 284 towards. ‘Her first mandate was marked by issues she didn’t see coming, however she held her floor’, says European correspondent Stefan de Vries. Extra information to comply with.
Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as President of the European Fee
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Immediately, the European Parliament voted on a brand new time period for the president. This was completed anonymously and by be aware. It had already turn into clear that the social democrats supported Von der Leyen in her re-election. The overwhelming majority of the greens in parliament additionally gave their approval. The liberals additionally voted in favour. From the Dutch events, the factions of PVV, SGP and Celebration for the Animals have been towards.
Von der Leyen even managed to get 40 extra votes than mandatory. That’s greater than anticipated, De Vries is aware of. ‘It’s broader assist than was feared in current days.’ The Europe correspondent concludes that Von der Leyen was capable of persuade sufficient politicians of the plans she offered upfront.
Housing disaster
Within the plans she introduced that there shall be a European Commissioner for housing, in addition to one for protection. The minister for housing particularly will go down properly in The Hague, De Vries expects. ‘Housing, or the dearth thereof, is seen as a disaster. Many nations are combating a scarcity of housing.’
The query is, nevertheless, what the content material of the place shall be. ‘The issues differ enormously from nation to nation. The Netherlands may be very densely populated and the inhabitants is rising quicker than in different European member states, whereas a big a part of the member states is definitely shedding inhabitants.’ However, there’s additionally stress on these nations, the Europe correspondent sees. ‘Younger individuals can now not purchase a home within the cities. So that is one thing the European Fee needs to deal with. You possibly can see it as a serving to hand to nationwide political events.’
Inexperienced Deal
De Vries additionally notes that Von der Leyen made a ‘attain’ to ‘all sides’ of the political spectrum. For instance, she is retaining the Inexperienced Deal intact for the Greens, however a ‘Inexperienced Industrial Pact’ is being added to the plan. In response to De Vries, it’s nonetheless unclear what precisely that plan entails, ‘however it ought to assist to inexperienced the polluting industries’.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Fee. (ANP / EPA)