Reuters: EU's von der Leyen vows to defend democracy in bid for second term
19 February 2024
Germany's centre right CDU party nominates Ursula von der Leyen as EU election candidate; Von der Leyen still needs pan-European centre-right umbrella group (EPP) backing; EPP ahead in polls despite far-right rise in some EU countries; Von der Leyen may come under pressure on climate goals
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday vowed to defend democracy from those who sought to destroy it as she won the backing from German conservatives for another five-year term running the European Union's executive body.
At a meeting of the party leadership, Germany's opposition Christian Democrats (CDU) gave their support to von der Leyen to be their candidate for Commission president, putting her in a strong position to retain the post.
The 65-year-old former German defence minister is now likely to become the candidate of the pan-European centre-right umbrella group, the European People's Party (EPP), at a congress in Bucharest in March.
"The most important thing is democracy, the rule of law that we defend and the peace that we have together," von der Leyen said at a news conference following the party meeting in Berlin.
She said her election campaign wanted to make it clear to
Russian President Vladimir Putin and far-right parties in Europe that "democracy in Europe is in their way."
"They want to destroy it, they want to destroy Europe and that is why it is so important that people help to ensure that their Europe is preserved," she said.
The first woman to hold the job, von der Leyen steered the EU through the COVID-19 pandemic, the formal exit of Britain from the bloc and the ructions following Russia's full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Von der Leyen would begin a second term as Europe seeks to strengthen its security, with Russia waging war on its borders, the chance of former
U.S. President Donald Trump returning to the White House and the far-right gaining ground....
© Reuters
