Designated European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reacting after her speech during a debate on her election at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France on tuesday. -Reuters
Germany's Ursula von der Leyen sought on Tuesday to win over skeptical European socialist and liberal lawmakers to back her as European Commission president, laying out ambitious social, climate and migrant policies ahead of a crunch vote.
If European Parliament lawmakers reject von der Leyen, it would be a serious blow for the bloc, beset by challenges from trade to Brexit and erosion of democratic norms. It would also create a headache for EU leaders who would have to come up with another candidate in a month.
Von der Leyen, who earlier this week resigned as German defense minister regardless of the EU lawmakers' decision, needs 374 votes for an absolute majority. Lawmakers will cast a secret ballot at 1600 GMT.
If approved, she would make history as the European Commission's first female leader. However, her nomination as a compromise candidate by EU leaders as part of horse-trading has angered some lawmakers who had put forward their own candidates.
The 60-year-old German conservative called for unity, trying to win over the fragmented parliament, where euroskeptics made big gains in May elections and Britain's Brexit party emerged as the biggest in the legislature.
"Whoever wants to see Europe strengthen, grow and flourish will have me as a passionate fighter on their side. But whoever wants Europe to weaken, divide and abandon its values will have me as a bitter opponent," von der Leyen told parliament.
"If we are united on the inside, nobody will divide us on the outside," added von der Leyen, who grew up in Brussels and switched fluently between German, French and English in her speech.
-Reuters, Strasbourg
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