EU: European right-wing parties name Ursula Von der Leyen head of list for June Europeans
During a congress of the European People's Party (EPP) held in Bucharest, Romania.
Ursula Von der Leyen, criticized internally, thus takes a further step towards her reappointment as head of the European Commission.
For two days, the leaders of the European right tried to hide their divisions three months from the Europeans.
Meeting of European rights in Bucharest: Ursula Von der Leyen has been named leader of the EPP for the European elections next June, March 7, 2024. AFP - DANIEL MIHAILESCU
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with our special correspondent in Bucharest,
Pierrick Bonno
Ursula Von der Leyen
, VDL as she is nicknamed, was applauded quite timidly by her people in Bucharest.
The President of the Commission will represent the EPP during the campaign and is getting closer to being reappointed to her position.
But she calls on her political family for unity.
“
Now it is time to get out of here and convince the people.
And my friends, this is only possible if we are a team
.”
Read alsoEuropean Union: the EPP congress, first test of truth for Ursula von der Leyen
And among its priorities, building defense Europe.
Our common goal must be very clear.
We must double, in the next 5 years, our industrial capacity in the field of defense.
And a single principle, a simple principle must guide us: Europe must spend more, Europe must spend better and Europe must spend European on its defense.
This is the only way, and it is an urgent necessity, to revive, strengthen and modernize the armed forces of the Member States.
But also to continue to support Ukraine.
The EPP is the party that has always supported a Europe that can defend itself.
And we will be the party that gives birth to a Defense Union.
We must be united on this issue more than any other.
This is why we absolutely need to appoint a defense commissioner for the next term.
This is one of the contributions of the EPP.
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Ursula Von Der Leyen: “We must double, in the next 5 years, our industrial capacity in the field of defense”
Pierrick Bonno
In view of the European elections in June, it is also a question of uniting to counter two threats, that of the far right leading in the polls in France in particular.
And that of other traditional parties.
The president of the EPP, Manfred Weber, particularly targets Emmanuel Macron.
“
Emmmanuel Macron had the ambition to transform his idea of a movement into a party on a European scale and to destroy all the old parties.
But he is losing ground.
»
In detail, it is not a plebiscite for VDL, the only candidate.
Half of the delegates did not vote.
And among the voters, one in five voted against it.
Notably the French LR who criticize her record and judge her to be too close to Emmanuel Macron.
Read alsoEPP Congress: French Republicans maintain their opposition to Ursula von der Leyen
“
It is perhaps good to reintroduce a little politics into the alliance system within the EPP which must hear the positions of each national party,”
underlines Céline Imart, second on the list of the French right.
A less and less silent minority which could threaten his reappointment at the head of the commission next summer.
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