On Monday, the CDU party executive nominated Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as President of the European Commission. She is due to be chosen as the European lead candidate for the EU’s most powerful office at the European People’s Party conference in March. The catch: Although Ursula von der Leyen wants to be the lead candidate, her name does not appear on the ballot paper for the upcoming European elections. By not standing as candidate for the European Parliament, she is calling into question the essence of the Spitzenkandidaten principle – according to which the candidature for the EU’s top office is directly linked to the outcome of the European elections.

Daniel Freund, Member of the European Parliament for the Greens, comments:

“Von der Leyen was made Commission president by the heads of state and government. That’s how she wants it to happen again. By refusing to run for the European Parliament, Von der Leyen is damaging European democracy. She is running for the most powerful office in the EU without even appearing on a single ballot paper. She obviously does not dare to face the voters’ scrutiny. Standing as a lead candidate without being up for election takes the Spitzenkandidaten principle ad absurdum. This is damaging the citizens’ trust in the EU Commission.”