Decision time in Brussels: Von der Leyen receives support for a second term

The heads of state and government of the European Union have mostly agreed at the EU summit in Brussels to support Ursula von der Leyen for a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. Along with this decision, former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa was chosen as the new President of the European Council, while Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was appointed as the bloc's new Chief Diplomat. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni abstained from voting in favor of von der Leyen, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán voted against her, according to people informed about the summit discussions. Supported by Europe's largest centrist parties, it was expected that von der Leyen would remain in office, as EU capitals preferred continuity over change in light of the turmoil caused by the war in Ukraine, tensions with China, and political uncertainties in some key member states. Now, von der Leyen must secure a majority in the European Parliament to confirm her second term as Commission President. A coalition of her center-right European People's Party, the Socialists and Democrats, and the liberal Renew Group holds about 410 seats in the 720-member Parliament. A vote is scheduled for the week of July 15.