Metsola seen as favourite to succeed Ursula von der Leyen as next Commission President
7942 Mins Read
Roberta Metsola, the current President of the European Parliament, is regarded as one of the leading contenders to potentially succeed Ursula von der Leyen as the President of the European Commission, according to Politico.
While Von Der Leyen remains the prominent candidate for a second term at the helm of the EU executive, her reappointment is no longer assured.
With just two months left until the Europe-wide election in June, European diplomats and officials in Brussels are discussing the possibility that von der Leyen might not secure another five-year term leading the EU’s executive. Support from her own centre-right European People’s Party appears tepid at best.
Metsola has been listed by Politico among the favourites if not the favorite to replace von der Leyen to if she doesn’t get the support she needs although France is expected to play a determining role on who succeeds.
Politico adds that Metsola, as European Parliament president, has managed to stay above the political fray, a tactic which previously helped her secure her current post.
At the same time, she has shown leadership on foreign policy, and was the first EU leader to visit Kyiv after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.
Her nationality seen both as an advantage and disadvantage
Hailing from Malta, Metsola could be a win for southern Europe when the top jobs are doled out.
In an Instagram post last week Metsola was seen huddling with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk — a hint that whatever the job may be, she has support in high places.
On the otherhand, Poltico points out that Malta is the smallest country in the EU, by both size and population. Nor does Metsola have any executive experience, even in her home country. Her conservative record on abortion was used against her at the start of her presidency of the EU legislature.
This does not include the lead candidates of the political parties competing with von der Leyen. Notwithstanding the so-called Spitzenkandidaten process, the European People’s Party is unlikely to give up the presidency of the Commission if they remain the biggest political force in Brussels.
Other possible candidates to succeed von der Leyen mentioned by Politico include Italian Mario Draghi, French Christine Lagarde and Thierry Breton, Romanian Klaus Iohannis and Croatian Andrej Plenković.
