EC President Ursula von der Leyen had to lead the EU through severe trials and crises. And she showed that she is capable of handling big challenges, writes ARD.
Russia's war against Ukraine and the question of Europe's security determine its policy from 2022 onwards. Ursula von der Leyen has demonstrated her affection for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky like no other politician in Europe - she has visited Ukraine seven times since the country was attacked by Russia, ARD recalls.
She promises Ukrainians full support as long as they need it. Von der Leyen has repeatedly emphasized that a possible Russian victory would cost Europe much more than what it is now giving in the form of aid to Ukraine.
However, not all member states of the Community share this position. Hungary, for example, regularly blocks aid to Kiev, which critics say serves Russian interests. To the southern European countries of the EU, Ukraine seems too far away and they are not ready to lose part of their military stocks in order to provide them to it, states ARD.
Guaranteeing the security and unity of Europe and the deepening economic rivalry with China are the global political challenges facing the EU and the EC led by Von der Leyen.
"Divangate"
In recent years, Ursula von der Leyen has gained enough confidence that today a scandal like the infamous "Divangate" it simply wouldn't be possible, the German publication continues. During a visit to Turkey by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in April 2021, two years after she took office as head of the EC, European Council President Charles Michel took the only vacant chair from her and Ursula von der Leyen he had to sit on the couch, recalls ARD.
Today, Charles Michel is considered a political loser who urgently needs to find a new job. Unlike him, Von der Leyen established himself as the face of the European Commission, to which he gave new weight, commented German public television.
Compromise in the name of the new candidacy
Instead of "Green Deal" - relief for the economy and farmers: Von der Leyen had to swallow this bitter pill to be nominated by her European People's Party (EPP) again for office. After the nomination, she specifically thanked Manfred Weber, the powerful head of the party faction, and praised his "outstanding work". He kindly clapped his hands.
Under her leadership, the EC first had to deal mainly with the crisis surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, which was not without criticism. For example, it is claimed that the president of the European Commission negotiated the supply of vaccines for several billion euros by SMS with the then head of the pharmaceutical company "Pfizer", because of which lawsuits were filed.
Ready to cooperate with the right-wing conservatives?
In the hot phase of the election campaign, attention is also focused on Von der Leyen's relations with the parties of the Group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which stands to the right of the EPP. She named three conditions under which she would be ready to work together with the MEPs from this faction - that they be pro-European, pro-Ukrainian and protect the rule of law.
With this, Von der Leyen demonstrates that she is also willing to take risks in order to gain wider support - to be confirmed as head of the EC, she needs a majority in the European Parliament. Because of her willingness to cooperate with the faction of European conservatives and reformists, however, Ursula von der Leyen was subjected to fierce criticism from the greens, social democrats, leftists and liberals, ARD recalls.
Ultimately the state and government leaders decide
In order to remain at the head of the EC for another five years, Ursula von der Leyen will have to convince the 27 heads of state and government from the EU to nominate her for another term. And she perhaps knows best of all how uncertain such a decision is and what surprising outcomes are possible.