The new Commission can be authorized by the European Parliament with a big majority, however it will likely be value observing how this majority can be fashioned.
A constructive end result is all however assured when the European Parliament votes on whether or not to approve the European Commission president, the brand new workforce of commissioners led by Ursula von der Leyen as an entire, however there are good causes to intently monitor Wednesday’s vote in Strasbourg.
Parliament will vote to approve the brand new Commission, having beforehand authorized all 26 commissioners by means of a backroom deal between centrist teams: the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew Europe.
The new Commission requires an absolute majority of votes solid to be authorized and take workplace in December. While this end result appears doubtless, who will vote for and in opposition to stays considerably unsure. This is critical as a result of it may form and affect the parliamentary majority for your entire legislature.
A twist within the pro-EU majority?
In July Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected with 401 votes. At the time, the vote happened by secret poll, though the teams had publicly declared their intentions. In addition to the three centrist teams, the Greens/EFA group additionally supported von der Leyen. The left group and all right-wing political forces voted in opposition to or abstained, with a number of exceptions among the many European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
The outcome instructed a majority within the European Parliament just like that of the earlier legislature: pro-EU centrist teams, with shut collaboration from the Greens.
However, the state of affairs might be very completely different now. First of all, the brand new formation of the Commission consists of Raffaele Fitto, vp of the right-wing Fratelli d’Italia celebration.
While von der Leyen emphasised collaboration with “pro-EU”, “pro-Ukraine” and “pro-rule of legislation” political forces, the president of her EPP group in Parliament, Manfred Weber, hinted at a stronger coalition extensive. He envisaged a “broad middle within the European Parliament, from the Greens to the ECR”.
“My majority, if I could say so, is changing into actual. And that makes me joyful as a result of we want extra stability within the European Parliament,” Weber stated throughout a press convention in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Such a majority may shift EU coverage considerably to the correct on points akin to migration and the surroundings. However, it additionally stays to be seen how von der Leyen’s extremely centrist alliance will maintain up in tomorrow’s votes.
Defections and divisions
Spain’s centre-right Partido Popular (PP) has introduced that it’s going to not assist the Commission as a result of inclusion of Spanish vice-president Teresa Ribera, a member of the rival centre-left PSOE (S&D) celebration, within the formation, in keeping with the Spaniards. EFE information company. The PP has not clarified whether or not its MEPs will vote in opposition to or abstain.
Within the socialists, a number of deputies are additionally dissatisfied with the brand new composition of the Commission. Dutch and Belgian members will vote in opposition to, whereas different delegations could abstain, in keeping with group sources. The French socialists have already declared themselves in opposition to it. “We don’t settle for a far-right govt vp like Raffaele Fitto. I’ll vote in opposition to its inclusion on this Commission,” MEP Claire Fita informed Euronews.
The deepest divisions, nevertheless, are between the Greens/EFA group on the left and the Conservatives on the correct.
The Greens say they’re a part of a “four-group majority” within the European Parliament and are able to “work constructively” in opposing the far proper. But the group itself is split, as revealed throughout a gathering Monday night. Only a small majority, led by German MEPs, helps the Commission, whereas French, Austrian and Italian members intend to vote in opposition to it, in keeping with a number of sources.
On the correct, some members of the ECR group are keen to affix the brand new majority, whereas others stay firmly opposed.
Fratelli d’Italia, the biggest delegation of the group, will vote in favor, for the reason that new Commission additionally consists of the vice-presidency amongst its members. According to group sources, different ECR delegations are anticipated to observe swimsuit.
ANNOUNCEMENTHowever, Polish and French members will oppose the fee, together with outstanding French MEP Marion Maréchal, granddaughter of far-right chief Marine Le Pen, who has criticized the commissioners-designate. “Beyond the dearth of competence of (French commissioner) Stéphane Séjourné, we’re confronted with a commissioner for the vitality transition identified for his anti-nuclear place, a commissioner for demography who sees immigration as an answer to the decline in start charges, and an equality commissioner who champions a pro-LGBTIQ+ agenda,” he informed Euronews.
Since the vote can be open, the brand new commissioners will be capable of see which MEPs they will rely on. Two thresholds can be essential to their success: the 401 votes obtained by von der Leyen in July and the 461 that authorized the earlier Commission in November 2019.
