Upcoming European elections - The SPD party expresses dismay as von der Leyen's remarks fuel right-wing support.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) has heavily criticized European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) over her willingness to cooperate with the right-wing conservative group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). According to the SPD's lead candidate for the upcoming European elections, Katarina Barley, von der Leyen's openness to this collaboration is a dangerous move towards the far right.
Barley told the German Press Agency, "Ursula von der Leyen is opening the door to the far right." She went on to say that the European People's Party (EPP), of which von der Leyen is the nominee for the June 9 elections, is effectively abandoning the democratic consensus within the EU. Barley stated, "Especially in times of increasing right-wing extremism, this is a disastrous sign."
During an initial debate between the main European party leaders in Maastricht on Monday, when asked about the potential for cooperation with the ECR, von der Leyen responded, "It depends very much on how the parliament is composed and who sits in which parliamentary group."
The ECR group includes right-wing parties like Italy's Fratelli d'Italia and Poland's ruling party, PiS. As von der Leyen aims to return to the helm of the Brussels authority, she must be confirmed by the EU Parliament following the summer's European elections. Although it is initially the responsibility of the heads of state and government to propose the President of the Commission, the Parliament can reject this decision.
Barley characterizes parties such as PiS and Fratelli d'Italia as autocratic, emphasizing her party's 160-year history of fighting extremism. She assured, "With us, there will be no coalition with the far right."
The deputy leader of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Achim Post, labeled von der Leyen's openness to cooperation with the ECR as scandalous. Post said, "The ECR group in the European Parliament includes parties that are working to undermine democracy in their respective countries, are fighting against a free press, or are inciting hatred against minorities. Anyone who is reluctant to draw a clear boundary here is undermining the long-standing democratic consensus that has kept Europe together and strong."
CDU Executive Committee Member Jens Spahn downplayed the SPD's criticism of von der Leyen's statements, insisting that she is "absolutely right." Spahn told the German Press Agency, "We must become as strong as possible as the European People's Party, and then we will see which partners we can work with."
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Source: www.stern.de
