Ursula von der Leyen faces opposition from Czech MEPs

4 months ago 29

The majority of Czech MEPs will not support the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as the European Commission’s president despite promises in her efforts to secure a majority.

Ursula von der Leyen is likely to only secure votes from five Czech MEPs from the European People’s Party (EPP) and possibly three more from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) out of the 21 Czechs MEPs elected in the last EU elections.

Czech MEPs from the Patriots for Europe group, which includes seven members of the Czech ANO party, are firmly against the incumbent president of the European Commission and her previous five-year term, claiming it had “negative impacts on people’s lives.”

“She visited us with some promises, but we will wait to hear her speech,” commented ECR members Alexandr Vondra and Veronika Vrecionová (ODS), quoted by the Czech News Agency. Their colleague from ODS, Czech MEP Ondřej Krutílek, remains undecided, leaning towards support but awaiting further clarity.

“I am surprised she has not approached us, the third-largest faction,” remarked Czech MEP Klára Dostálová (Patriots for Europe) for Czech News Agency, echoing the faction’s general reluctance to support her.

Czech MEP Kateřina Konečná (Czech Communist Party, NI) was also clear.

“She (Ursula von der Leyen) is a person who has not convinced me,” Konečná said for Euractiv.cz.

According to Konečná, von der Leyen “discredited herself” during the COVID-19 pandemic and with the controversial negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.

Another Czech MEP, Markéta Gregorová (Pirates, Greens/EFA), does not yet know whether she will support von der Leyen on Thursday. She plans to decide based on how von der Leyen approaches issues such as internet privacy and electronic communications in her address to the Parliament.

However, according to Czech MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (EPP), the EP vote so far also indicates that MEPs are willing to support another mandate for Ursula von der Leyen as head of the European Commission.

“I think Ursula will pass,” Zdechovský told Euractiv.cz. “I think the votes were already found yesterday (Tuesday, 17 July),” referring to the results of the EP vice-president elections. According to him, von der Leyen will get votes from the EPP, S&D and Renew groups and other MEPs.

(Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)