The European Parliament’s first plenary session since the June elections has begun, with 720 newly-elected lawmakers gathering in Strasbourg to kick off the 10th legislature. This new term is anticipated to be the rowdiest yet, as over a quarter of MEPs are now aligned with hard- and far-right groups that challenge the pro-European centrist parties. The creation of the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group, which includes forces that are anti-migration, anti-LGBT, anti-feminism, anti-Green Deal, anti-vaccination, and anti-military aid to Ukraine, has further shifted the landscape. Mainstream parties will need to navigate this changing dynamic and maintain the cordon sanitaire that has historically kept the far right from high-profile positions in the institutions.
The first day of the plenary session will see the election of the Parliament’s president for the next two and a half years. Roberta Metsola, a moderate figure from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), is the frontrunner for re-election. Following this, the election of the 14 vice-presidents will test the effectiveness of the cordon sanitaire, with Patriots for Europe vying for a vice-president position against the opposition of the EPP, the Socialists, and the Liberals. This day will set the tone for how the Parliament will navigate the increased presence of far-right groups in the legislature.
The agenda for the second day of the plenary session includes a focus on Ukraine and a potential rebuke of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. MEPs are expected to pass a resolution reaffirming their support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression. This resolution is seen as a response to Orbán’s controversial visits to Russia and China, which were criticized by EU leaders as exploiting Hungary’s EU Council presidency. The day will also involve a vote on committee assignments, with the selection of committee chairs serving as another test for the cordon sanitaire.
On the third day of the plenary session, MEPs will vote on Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as president of the European Commission for a second term. While EU leaders hand-picked von der Leyen as part of a top jobs deal, the Parliament is poised to flex its muscles and seek concessions from the Commission chief. The Socialists, Liberals, and Greens have outlined specific demands they want to see addressed in von der Leyen’s work programme in exchange for their support. Both von der Leyen’s EPP party and the Greens hold crucial votes in determining her re-election, with the Greens potentially serving as kingmakers. The outcome of these negotiations will shape von der Leyen’s plans for her second term.
The intensity of the week is heightened by the European Court of Justice’s impending ruling on access to information related to von der Leyen’s handling of vaccine contracts, adding an element of uncertainty to her potential re-election. If von der Leyen fails to secure the necessary votes, EU leaders will have a month to propose a new nominee, potentially reopening discussions on the top jobs deal. This high-stakes vote showcases the Parliament’s role as the only directly elected institution in the EU and its ability to influence the leadership of the Commission. The outcome of this vote will have significant implications for the direction of the EU in the coming years.
