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The German Defense Minister, appointed on 2 July by the heads of state and government of the European Union to succeed Jean-Claude-Juncker to the presidency of the Commission, spent his grand oral this Wednesday 10 July in Parliament. MEPs must decide whether or not to give their consent to the nomination of the 28 capitals, and for Ursula von der Leyen nothing is acquired in advance.
With our Brussels office, Pierre Benazet
After the Conservatives of the European People's Party, his own political family, Ursula von der Leyen met this Wednesday the other three groups of Parliament: Social Democrats, centrists and Greens. The German Defense Minister needs broad support from these three groups to hope for a majority, as she is not sure she will get all the EPP votes.
Many MPs regret, for example, that governments have not nominated one of the candidates for the electoral list. Ursula von der Leyen must therefore pledge her commitment to the Union.
" I am here in the European Parliament at the heart of European democracy and I am a European of heart and conviction, " she said.
Ursula von der Leyen shared her ambitions for climate, migration management, a more social Europe and even a relaxation of the Brexit date.
Ursula von der Leyen, said Wednesday ready to give more time to the UK for its exit from the EU. " If the UK needs more time, I agree to give it more time. A Brexit without an agreement would be catastrophic, "she said in response to a British leader during her hearing before the Greens.
Greens not convinced, centrists divided ...
Among the deputies who proceeded on Wednesday to his hearing , a certain number is not very convinced. The Greens are considering voting against it, the centrists seem divided and the Social Democrats are reserving their opinion until next week.
In the uncertainty, a postponement of the vote next week in Strasbourg remains possible, a scenario that would not be totally unprecedented since for example in 2004, Jose Manuel Barroso, appointed late June, had been able to take office that 'in November.