By Athena Papakosta

Members of the European Parliament will decide today Thursday on the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen at the helm of the European Commission. However, despite her efforts to achieve her goal, the outcome of the vote is considered uncertain.

At the end of June, the leaders of the “27” reached an agreement, choosing to renew Ms. von der Leyen’s term for a second time. The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, however, chose to abstain from the vote. Calling it “surreal” that no one took into account the views expressed by Europeans when they voted in early June, the Italian prime minister condemned the agreement between the dominant European parties to “share” the top jobs in the European Union.

Ursula von der Leyen needs 361 votes to be re-elected president of the European Commission.

In theory, the support of the European People’s Party (EPP), to which she belongs, as well as the support of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and that of the Centers and Liberals (Renew) are sufficient to achieve the goal. However, the vote is secret and MEPs could … cross party lines and therefore not vote for it.

Irish centrist MEPs have expressed their disagreement with her re-election because of her stance on the Gaza Strip war. Their colleagues from France, although they belong to the European People’s Party, have also declared that they will not vote for her.

At the same time, she does not sit idly by and proceeded to meetings and contacts with other Eurogroups.

The Greens are said to be open, but some of their MEPs would also like to hear her speech before reaching their final decision, while the Left looks set to close the door on her because of her position in favor of increasing defense spending. The European Union.

“No” they answered her and “Patriots for Europe”, the new far-right political group of the European Parliament and the third most powerful in it.

The attitude of Mrs. Meloni and how she will make sure to influence at least the 24 MEPs of her “Brothers of Italy” party who belong to the group of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) which she also leads, is expected with interest.

Georgia Meloni seems to want to decide by criteria the role of Rome the next day in the European Commission. The Prime Minister of Italy, as reported by the Italian Media, wants her country’s position in the European Union to be recognized, and is asking for strong portfolios like that of the Economy Commissioner.

If Ursula von der Leyen fails to be re-elected, the European Union will need to go back to the starting point of the process, so that it starts again. It will require the “27” to meet again in order to come up with a new candidate, with someone obvious, so far, not to exist.