Ursula von der Leyen Faces Crucial Hurdle in EU Commission Leadership

Ursula von der Leyen, the first woman at the helm of the powerful European Commission, is seeking re-election. However, she faces challenges as she needs the support of various political groups in the European Parliament.

Her party, the European People's Party (EPP), has a majority with the Socialists and Liberals, but there are many potential dissenters. Von der Leyen is reliant on the support of the Greens and right-wing parties, which is risky given her party's demands for a tougher migration policy and revisions to the Green Deal.

The support of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was conditional on von der Leyen not forming alliances with parties to the right of the CDU/CSU. The biggest challenge in her new term will be cooperation with the United States, especially if Donald Trump is re-elected.

Von der Leyen's previous term was marked by crisis management, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's attack on Ukraine. MEPs will have to decide if she can effectively address the challenges facing the EU, including the rise of the far right, environmental commitments, and demands for a stronger stance on migration.