Ursula von der Leyen was re-elected to a second 5-year term as President of the European Commission on Thursday, and it wasn’t without a few fireworks.
The 65-year-old Von der Leyen received 401 votes in favour, with 284 votes against, 15 abstentions, and 7 void ballots.
Polish MEP Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, representing the smallest political group in the European Parliament—Europe of Sovereign Nations—went on a two minute tirade against Von der Leyen, attacking her for doing next to nothing to stop the flow of illegal migrants into Europe.
“You are responsible for every rape, every assault, every tragedy caused by the influx of illegal migrants,” Zajączkowska said. “You should go to prison!”
Video of the encounter has gone viral on social media, showing Von der Leyen sitting nearby with an awkward smile, while a mix of boos and cheers rang through the European Parliament.
Zajączkowska’s Europe of Sovereign Nations is a newly formed right-wing political group in the European Parliament, consisting of 25 members from 8 countries. The party strongly opposes the EU’s green policies, migration policies, and the Islamization of Europe.
After nearly a decade of unmitigated mass illegal migration, Europeans across the continent are saying enough is enough and electing members from right-wing parties en masse. Many European countries are facing crime waves linked to immigration, including increased gun violence and sexual assault.
In her final speech before votes were cast, Von der Leyen said she “will never let the extreme polarization of our societies become accepted.”
She added: “I will never accept that demagogues and extremists destroy our European way of life. And I stand here today ready to lead the fight with all the Democratic forces in this house.”
COVID ruling
In April, German MEP Christine Anderson had her mic cut while calling EU Von der Leyen “corrupt” and demanding that she disclose documents on her deal with Pfizer.
The contract in question came into the public consciousness in 2023 when the New York Times sued von der Leyen over the institution’s failure to disclose critical documents between her and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, with NYT arguing that they have a legal obligation to do so and that their freedom of information requests are being blocked.
On Wednesday, the EU General Court rendered a decision stating that the Commission, led by Von der Leyen, gave the public inadequate access to information on the purchase agreements it had made with pharmaceutical companies to get COVID vaccines.
