The European Parliament will decide today whether to grant Ursula von der Leyen a second term as President of the European Commission.
If von der Leyen fails to secure at least 361 votes (out of a total of 720) in favor of a second five-year term, it will trigger an unprecedented political crisis, leaving the EU's most powerful job vacant at a time of instability in Europe.
Von der Leyen's supporters say the incumbent has safe and steady hands - just what Europe needs.
Ahead of the vote, a wide range of MEPs and officials appeared confident that von der Leyen would get the necessary majority, while stressing that anything could happen in the secret ballot.
"I'm sure it will pass, I'm sure the votes will be there," said MEP Siegfried Muresan, vice-chairman of the EPP's center-right group. He argued that one of the key reasons they voted for her was that "electing a Commission President less than two months after the election is a sign of stability and continuity".
In her first term, Ursula von der Leyen led the bloc through the pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis.
If von der Leyen fails to win support in parliament, national leaders must go back to the drawing board and find an alternative within a month, leaving the EU institution in political limbo as hard-right and far-right parties increase their influence across the continent.
Ahead of the vote, Von der Leyen will address the new EP in Strasbourg, setting out her expected policy priorities with the aim of convincing as many MPs as possible to back her.
After a two-hour break, MEPs will begin the voting procedure at 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. Bulgarian time), and the results will be announced around 2:45 p.m.
In June's election, von der Leyen's EPP, the Socialists and Renew Europe, part of her governing coalition, secured 401 seats. | BGNES
