Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, faces increasing opposition from her own country Germany indicates a possible withdrawal of support in the next election.
European Socialists have issued a stern warning, saying they will not support Von der Leyen for a second term if she continues to form alliances with far-right members of the European Parliament aligned with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The warning comes at a crucial time, coinciding with French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Germany to strategize the Franco-German consensus on Europe's political future.
Even Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Social Democratic Party (SPD) are hinting that Von der Leyen's re-election bid will be thwarted.
Katarina Barley, the SPD's main candidate for the upcoming EU elections, emphasized their position.
She said: “We will not cooperate with the far right.”
This sentiment is consistent with left-wing parties' collective pledge to avoid collaboration with far-right and radical factions at any level.
Von der Leyen's willingness to consider forming a coalition with the right-wing European Conservatives and the Reformist (ECR) group has further fueled discontent among socialists.
Scholz warned against such a move and emphasized the importance of establishing the Commission presidency on the basis of traditional party alliances.
Criticism of von der Leyen's approach has escalated, with Nicolas Schmit, the Socialists' leading candidate for the EU elections, denouncing her willingness to engage with Meloni's party. He emphasized the major ideological differences and labeled Meloni as “politically far right”.
Amid the unrest, speculation arises about possible alternatives to Von der Leyen's leadership. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi emerged as the frontrunner, drawing support from Macron's camp and gaining traction in Berlin. Markus Töns, a German MP, expressed his support for Draghi, highlighting his experience and suitability for the role.
The dissatisfaction with von der Leyen's position on coalition formation with the ECR underlines the challenges she faces in securing a second term.
Despite being the European People's Party's leading candidate, von der Leyen's path to re-election appears to be fraught with obstacles, especially if she fails to gain support from center-left MEPs.