With only nine votes to spare, Ursula von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission by a razor-thin margin. In the two weeks between her nomination and the crucial vote in the European Parliament, tensions ran high and the certainty of her electoral victory was not yet solidified.
Nothing, however, compared to the candidate’s last-minute attempt to gain the critical number of MEPs in a Parliament more diverse and divided than ever before. Yet, after all the speculation, uncertainty and suspense, Europe now has its first-ever female President-elect of the European Commission.
FTI Consulting witnessed the Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg first hand. Here are our insights on how it all happened.
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Picture– Ursula von der Leyen outlined her priorities as Commission President © European Union 2019 – EP
