European Parliament likely to re-elect Ursula von der Leyen

The Commission Chairman is likely to get enough votes for a second term.

The moment of truth will come on Thursday for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: the European Parliament will vote on the 65-year-old German's second term. The CDU politician must be confirmed for another five years with the votes of the European People's Party, the Social Democrats and the Liberals, but there are likely to be dissenters among them as well. However, approval can be expected with the votes of the other groups.

Absolute majority is necessary

Together, the three political groups above hold 401 seats out of 720. To be re-elected, the Commission president needs an absolute majority of 361 votes. She is likely to achieve that on Thursday, when some MEPs from the Greens and the European Conservatives and Reformists group are also expected to vote for her in a secret ballot.

The ÖVP MEPs, who belong to von der Leyen's EPP group, are likely to vote for her. The SPÖ, Grees and NEOS have reached an agreement with conditions. The FPÖ does not want to give the German politician voting rights.