In seeking re-election, Ursula von der Leyen has one real rival: herself

euronews (in English)

Ursula von der Leyen is often hailed as the most transformational president of the European Commission since Jacques Delors. But could her legacy backfire as she seeks re-election?

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00:00 [Applause]

00:03 Ursula von der Leyen was approved by the European Parliament on the 16th of July 2019

00:09 to be President of the European Commission.

00:11 Soon she became one of the most influential leaders in Europe,

00:15 but her mandate was heavily marked by different crises

00:18 and lately overshadowed by criticism related to Europe's green transition.

00:23 In March 2020, Europe faced lockdowns and panic due to the coronavirus.

00:28 The Commission eventually opted for a joint vaccines procurement

00:31 and set up a monetary fund to boost the economy.

00:34 Both initiatives were welcomed across Europe.

00:38 The recovery fund, well, the basis that we take loans together

00:42 and we stand in solidarity with each other, that was also progress.

00:46 Unfortunately, the dissemination of the money was not enough bound to the Green Deal measurements

00:54 and also the controlling mechanisms on how effectively this money is spent.

00:59 Shortly after Vladimir Putin launched his war in Ukraine in 2022,

01:04 von der Leyen travelled to Kiev and Bucha to show Europe's support.

01:09 Here in Bucha we saw our humanity being shattered.

01:15 In the following months, the EU sanctioned Russia, cut energy ties with it,

01:20 granted financial aid and weapons to Kiev and eventually opened the way towards EU membership of Ukraine.

01:28 They belong to us, they are one of us and we want them in.

01:34 These were all firsts under the leadership of von der Leyen.

01:39 She is combining really a very good combination of personal, emotional and psychological, you know,

01:47 appeal both to Ukrainians and to Europeans and also very clear practical vision of what is needed to be done for Ukraine.

01:56 Now all the statements about solidarity, about our support to Ukraine need to be, you know,

02:01 supported by clear, you know, steps, clear measures and that is what Ursula von der Leyen, really, she is able to achieve.

02:08 Critics say while von der Leyen was clearly committed to the Green Deal in the first years of her mandate,

02:15 her enthusiasm has faded away due to lobbying from big businesses.

02:19 While her party, the EPP, tried to hijack the nature restoration law,

02:24 the Commission watered down the car emissions phase-out and made various concessions to protesting farmers.

02:30 She has been giving in to this pressure substantially, which was quite disappointing,

02:35 not just for me as a member of the parliament but for big parts of society.

02:40 If von der Leyen is elected again, she is likely to concentrate on EU defence policy

02:47 as well as reforming the bloc to be able to accept new members.

02:51 [MUSIC PLAYING]

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