Ursula von der Leyen encanta a los europeos en las elecciones de la UE

A medida que 8️⃣ los 400 millones de ciudadanos de la UE se preparan para votar en las elecciones europeas de junio, una nueva 8️⃣ encuesta muestra que es Ursula von der Leyen quien ha atraído la atención de los votantes como ningún líder de 8️⃣ la UE antes que ella.

Reconocimiento de von der Leyen sin precedentes entre los europeos

Our 8️⃣ survey suggests that a large majority of Europeans today are aware that she is the European Commission president, considered to 8️⃣ be the most powerful political office in the EU. Previous EU chief executives have been largely unknown to the public. 8️⃣ But almost 75% are able to correctly identify von der Leyen's name and recognise her face. Five years ago, her 8️⃣ predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker, scored only 40% recognition.

Integración y rendición de cuentas en la UE

Pressure 8️⃣ for EU reform is becoming urgent. With war raging in Ukraine and Gaza, and the relationship between China and the 8️⃣ BR cooling, the EU needs deeper defence integration to meet the growing geopolitical challenges. Economic and monetary union might not 8️⃣ be sustainable without closer fiscal integration and a stronger single market. New technologies need to be harnessed to generate prosperity 8️⃣ for the next generation and the 27-nation EU is committed to expanding to become a union of 30 or more 8️⃣ member states.

But its democratic accountability remains weak. Not only are turnout and interest in 8️⃣ the five-yearly direct elections to the European parliament low, the results have only a limited bearing on the political leaning 8️⃣ of the commission, which forms and enforces policy for the EU.

Una oportunidad para la reforma en la UE

8️⃣ A window of opportunity is now opening up, however, as von der Leyen, first appointed in 2024, 8️⃣ is running for a second five-year term. Commission presidents are elected by MEPs, but first have to be nominated by 8️⃣ EU heads of government.

Public awareness of coordinated EU responses to two major crises that 8️⃣ have unfolded during von der Leyen's first five-year term – the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine – has 8️⃣ raised her profile well beyond predecessors'. Europe's leaders should seize this opportunity.

Retos y críticas a von der Leyen

8️⃣ Of course, in an increasingly personalised system, von der Leyen's fame and public recognition also leave her 8️⃣ flaws – her tendency to act alone, for example – more open to criticism. On an unscheduled trip to Israel 8️⃣ after the 7 October attacks she expressed unconditional support for Israel. This might not have been out of place had 8️⃣ she been the BR president. But EU member states were divided on the issue. The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, 8️⃣ delivered a swift public rebuke of von der Leyen for assuming to speak on behalf of the entire EU. 8️⃣

El futuro de la UE: un desafío para von der Leyen

What is more, von der Leyen's 8️⃣ heightened profile will not necessarily do anything to help deliver a victory in the European parliament elections for the "grand 8️⃣ coalition" of social democrat, conservative and liberal groups that backed the policies she promoted during her first term.

8️⃣ Instead, we are likely to see a lurch to the hard right and