The title Alpha Woman is very fitting to be given to Ursula Von Der Leyen. The former German defense minister won the election for president of the European Commission again in 2024. According to preliminary calculations from the Live Results of the European Parliament as of June 19, 2024, Ursula Von Der Leyen, who was proposed as the sole candidate by the European People’s Party won 190 seats out of 720 seats. This strengthens Ursula’s position to become the next president of the European Commission. The party supporting Ursula competes with 7 other parties, including the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) with 136 votes, the Renew Europe Group with 80 votes, the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) with 51 votes, the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) with 83 votes, the Identity and Democracy Group (ID) with 58 votes, and the Left group in the European Parliament (GUE/NGL) with 39 votes.
During her campaign, Ursula put forward several visions for the future of the European Union, including that she wanted to focus on strengthening economic, security, social, and climate integration. The vision presented by Ursula is relevant to the situation currently facing the European Union. In the field of economic integration, the European Union is faced with internal tensions such as population, nationalism, and the emergence of parties opposed to further integration in the European Union. In the security sector, the issue of migrants is an issue that will remain relevant. Policies regarding migration continue to be fought over because there are different views and opinions among European Union member countries. Complex foreign relations with global partners and competitors such as China, the US, and Russia are also increasing tensions in the European Union.
Analysis of Ursula Von Der Leyen’s Winning Factors
Ursula’s victory in the election for president of the European Commission with the most votes was assessed due to the good performance she performed while serving as president of the European Commission in the previous period. Ursula’s success under her previous leadership was the rapid economic recovery after COVID-19. Fair and inclusive management succeeded in reducing economic disparities between European Union member countries and encouraging Europe’s vaccination program to become the fastest in the world.
During her time as president of the European Commission, Ursula succeeded in navigating the internal political dynamics of countries that had different views in the economic and political fields. Ursula succeeded in increasing solidarity between them through transparency, efficient administration, and accountability. Ursula reflects her expertise in building consensus among various political factions in the European Union parliament; this is a very crucial skill because the political situation of the European Union is very complex. As the first female leader of the European Union Commission, Ursula has advocated for gender equality throughout the European Union by providing broad opportunities to create easy access for every European Union citizen.
Ursula’s success in winning for the second time also came from internal factors. Ursula received support from the most influential countries in the European Union, such as Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. With good and persuasive communication and negotiation skills, Ursula is able to influence the support and perceptions of member country leaders and voters. Ursula is also a main actor in the European Green Deal policy. This program was initiated to achieve neutral carbon emissions, comprehensive use of renewable energy, and economic and social transformation targeted by 2050.
Why is Ursula Von Der Leyen’s victory important for the European Union?
Ursula’s victory brought happy news to many of her supporters, the majority of whom came from major political parties in Europe. It is hoped that Ursula’s re-election for the second time will be a form of continuity with European Union policies that were successful under Ursula’s previous leadership. It is hoped that the sustainability of the European Union’s main strategic policies, such as the European Green Deal, will be able to be maximally realized to achieve the target by 2050. This policy is very important for Europe because it includes strategic policies that can have a big impact on the European Union. Several forms of programs are part of the European Green Deal policy, namely From Farm to Fork, which initiates an increase in the sustainability of the food system in the European Union and is free from the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers and encourages organic food. The Clean Energy for All Europeans program is also a flagship program of this policy. This program encourages the reduction of greenhouse emissions by accelerating the transition to clean and renewable energy.
Ursula’s victory is important for the European Union to further build its reputation and influence in the international sphere. Before serving as president of the European Commission, Ursula served as German defense minister in 2013. During her tenure as defense minister, Ursula succeeded in building strong relationships and networks with organizations and leaders around the world. Comprehensively, during her tenure as president of the European Commission, Ursula succeeded in increasing her existence and building a good reputation for prestigious international collaborations around the world. Ursula is a representative on agendas such as the G7, G20, and United Nations. With the reputation that Ursula has built, it is hoped that it can have an even more significant impact.
How will Ursula’s victory affect further integration and stability in the European Union and other regions?
Ursula’s victory for the second time certainly caused turmoil in the political situation of the European Union, especially outside the parties supporting Ursula. This turmoil allows political polarization to occur in the European Union, where the polarization that occurs between political factions in the European Union parliament will influence the internal dynamics of the European Union, such as decisions in making strategic decisions.
The European Union is a complex supranational organization, so every policy and agenda of this organization will have an impact even outside the European region. Ursula’s election for the second time had an impact on other regions, such as Southeast Asia, although indirectly. Southeast Asia is a strategic partner of the European Union in many areas, such as trade, security, the environment, and immigration. The upcoming management period will of course bring changes in the approach taken by the European Union, especially in the field of trade and investment in the Southeast Asia region, because almost all countries in the region have trade relations with the European Union. The European Union is known as a strong supporter of multilateralism and rules-based international systems, with the elections held and Ursula’s re-election able to strengthen the European Union’s position in the ASEAN Regional Forum and strengthen other more strategic cooperation.
Ursula represents that being a leader is not a matter of masculinity but a matter of responsibility, innovation, and integrity. The successful re-election of Ursula Von Der Leyen as President of the European Commission marks an important moment for the European Union. Her victory underlines continuity and stability in leadership, which is important as the EU faces complex challenges in the future. With a mandate to implement more ambitious policies, support post-pandemic economic recovery, and strengthen the EU’s global influence, Von Der Leyen is ready to shape Europe’s future. As he begins his second term, all eyes will be on how his leadership drives sustainability, innovation, and resilience across the continent, setting the course for the European Union in an increasingly interconnected world.
