Ursula von der Leyen elected European Commission president

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has won the vote to become the next president of the European Commission. 374 was the majority of votes required, and the EPP candidate gathered 383 votes. 327 MEPs voted against. Ursula von der Leyen becomes the first woman to lead the European Commission.

She will take up this post as of 1 November 2019 and will be followed by Luxembourg-based Jean-Claude Juncker, who has only one mandate at the top of the European Union’s executive.

Having identified the collective need for “a healthy planet as our greatest challenge and responsibility”, Ursula von der Leyen proposed bolder emissions targets, with a reduction of 50% to 55% by 2030 and committed to submit a plan for a “Green Deal for Europe” and a European Climate Law within her first 100 days in office.

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