He thought he could get away with it all.
Although Ursula von der Leyen made it clear early on that she is running for a second five-year term as head of the European Commission, and her campaign has officially started, and the European People's Party is also behind her - now her campaign seems to be crumbling.
According to Politico, two months before the European Parliament elections in June, there is talk in the ranks of Brussels that Von der Leyen's revival cannot be taken for granted at all.
One of the main reasons for this, according to an EU official, is the "arrogance of power" that Von der Leyen thought she could get away with everything. Now, however, many previous problems are being read onto his head.
In contrast to the Germans, who gave Von der Leyen his nationality and hinterland, the French leadership is still debating whether it will ever support the current commission president. Even the French moderate right-wing Republicans belonging to the European People's Party (EPP), Von der Leyen's parent party, have stated that Von der Leyen is not their candidate.
According to Politico, scandals and controversial actions such as Pfizergate (Von der Leyen's secret correspondence with the head of Pfizer about EU vaccine purchases), Von der Leyen's controversial trip to Israel from the left or the fall of one of the EU ambassadors due to his inappropriate appointment, they all lead to the fact that the position of the President of the Commission is weakened, and his re-election as Commissioner is no longer anticipated.
Ursula von der Leyen meanwhile, according to Politico's evaluation, does not even take her campaign that seriously; and as a really busy committee chairman, his specific activities take time away from campaigning, but he believes that his activities in this area may also be sufficient for re-election.
For a second term, Von der Leyen must win qualified majority support from EU member state leaders.
He will probably receive the support of the 12 heads of government belonging to the European People's Party, but this will not be enough for him to win.
Von der Leyen is criticized from many sides, from left-wing leaders to Hungary led by Viktor Orbán, and for the time being, support is not coming to the current commission president even from the circle of French people led by the liberal-centrist Emmanuel Macron. In any case, the French cannot really want a second-term, powerful leader at the head of the European Commission.
In addition to the European Council, the support of the European Parliament will also be needed - and it will only become clear after the election, exactly what composition and whom Ursula von der Leyen can count on to vote for the coveted second term.
Cover image: The chair shakes under Ursula von der Leyen
Source: MTI/EPA/ANSA/Ciro Fusco
