Ursula von der Leyen has completed her lineup of 26 European Commissioners, set to begin a five-year term after a final vote in Strasbourg next week. Her second mandate is scheduled to start December 1.
The process was turbulent, with nominees Teresa Ribera, Raffaele Fitto, and Olivér Várhelyi at the center of political clashes. The EPP, backed by Spain’s Partido Popular, blamed Ribera for Valencia’s flood response, while Ribera insisted the regional PP government was responsible.
Fitto’s nomination as executive vice-president was criticized by the S&D and Renew Europe due to his ties to Giorgia Meloni’s ECR group. Várhelyi faced similar scrutiny for his alignment with Viktor Orbán and past inflammatory remarks about MEPs.
Following intense negotiations, Ribera and Fitto retained their roles, while Várhelyi’s responsibilities for reproductive health were reassigned. The EPP, S&D, and Renew issued a non-binding statement pledging centrist cooperation, excluding the Greens.
The agreement allows von der Leyen to move forward, navigating the significant challenges awaiting her second term.
