The European Parliament voted to confirm Ursula von der Leyen as the president of the European Commission. The former German minister will be head of the Commission for the next five years.

European election

EU politics

Gender equality

Environment

Parliament elects Ursula von der Leyen as head of European Commission

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16827390/N01-PUB-190717-ECPR-EN.srt

 The European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen

as European Commission president, with 383 votes to 327, and 22 abstentions.

in the name of the Parliament on your election.

The next years are going to be very important for the future of the Union,

if there is close cooperation between European institutions.

she had laid out plans for a European Green Deal against climate change,

vowed to ensure gender parity in her college of commissioners

and called for improvements to the 'lead candidates' system.

Over 200 million people voted in the European elections.

Europe has influence. Europe wants to take responsibility for itself in the world.

This is why I need your help and your support. It's the most precious thing we have.

Es lebe Europa. Vive l'Europe. Long live Europe.

Manfred Weber, the leader of the EPP group,

had said that they would be supporting her nomination.

Europe needs to act. Europe needs stability.

For us Christian Democrats it's a new start.

We want to roll up our sleeves and work with Ursula von der Leyen

The Socialists and the Renew Europe group in the Parliament also lent her their support.

that will just further delay the changes that Europe needs.

But we do need guarantees that over the next few years

Europe will be able to confront the challenges that it faces.

if you are able to show the necessary courage and strength

But not all of the political groups supported her candidacy.

To sum up, what we need is a total change of course

in order to confront a triple threat to our society, environment and democracy,

when what you are suggesting are just minor changes

With a speech flirting with socialism like that,

you won't be able to convince the ID group, and that's why we will vote against you.

You said a few days ago that you respected the role of Parliament,

and you rightly said that it's the heart of democracy.

But I would say that things can only work if everyone respects the system. 

I think, and it's become quite clear today, that our project for the future of the Union

– for a social Union, for a Union that respects the climate, for a peaceful Union –

and that is why we will unfortunately not be able to vote for you today.

Having successfully clinched the required overall majority of the votes,

von der Leyen will head the European Commission for the next five years.