On a spread of delicate matters, from her assist to Israel in its conflict in opposition to Hamas to her China coverage, she made selections with out consulting member states, sparking ire from EU diplomats — and her personal commissioners — compelled to play catch-up.
The so-called Pfizergate scandal, a reference to the texts she exchanged with the pharmaceutical large’s CEO Albert Bourla to strike an unlimited vaccine deal in 2021, has equally tarnished her first time period. It has led to a lawsuit from the New York Instances in opposition to the Fee, for its failure to offer entry to those texts.
Though consideration to this case has to this point been restricted to Brussels circles, a court docket remains to be anticipated to rule on the authorized battle in 2024. Politically, an unfavorable ruling would ship an embarrassing sign and will have main implications for her reelection bid.
Von der Leyen should be formally nominated as her get together’s lead candidate, or Spitzenkandidat. It will happen in a vote on the EPP’s electoral congress in Bucharest, Romania on March 6-7.
However she stays the frontrunner to preside over the European Fee for an additional 5 years.
And there may very well be extra hassle coming her approach. To safe a second time period in workplace, von der Leyen must be nominated by European leaders and confirmed by the European Parliament in a public vote.