European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced today that she will not enter into any future cooperation with Putin's “friends” if she begins a new term as Commission president. She said this during a press conference in Brussels.
“I work with people who are pro-European, pro-NATO, pro-Ukraine, and are clear supporters of our democratic values,” she said. “Those who defend our democracy against Euroskeptics, and those who defend our values against Putin’s cronies, these are the people I want to work with.”
Von der Leyen announced two days ago in Berlin that she is seeking a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. On March 7, she will be elected at a conference in Bucharest to be the first candidate for the European People's Party, the largest party currently in Parliament. The European umbrella group for Christian Democratic and conservative parties confirmed today that there are no competing candidates. The French-speaking German is considered a strong candidate, but her election depends on the European Parliament, which decides the position.
The European Parliament elections are scheduled to take place from June 6 to 9. Far-right parties, such as the Identity and Democracy (ID) party, which includes Marine Le Pen's National Rally, Matteo Salvini's Lega, and the European Conservatives and Reformists bloc, are expected to make gains against established left and center-left parties.
Sebas van Aert
Read also here: Von der Leyen: Wilders and Le Pen are friends of Putin and want to destroy the European Union
