Ursula von der Leyen was elected as European Commission President for a second term after pledging to create a continental “defence union” and continue the EU’s green transition.
MEPs backed Ms von der Leyen’s bid for another five-year term at the helm of the European Union’s powerful executive body with 401 votes in her favour and 284 against in a secret ballot in the 720-member chamber.
Sinn Féin’s MEPs have voted against Ms von der Leyen, along with independent Luke Flanagan and Independent Ireland’s Ciarán Mullooly.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Mr Mullooly said he could not support Ms von der Leyen due to her position on Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
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“Unfortunately, when she got up this morning to make her address to the Parliament, she did not address that issue. She did call for a ceasefire, and regrettably, she did not go any further than that. So, I voted against her in the actual election,” he said.
However, he admitted that her address to the parliament in Strasbourg earlier in the day was “outstanding.”
Read more: Von der Leyen elected: How Ireland’s MEPs voted
Ms von der Leyen laid out a programme focused on prosperity and security, shaped by the challenges of Russia’s war in Ukraine, global economic competition and climate change.
“The next five years will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades,” she said.
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“It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others.”
Ms von der Leyen stressed the need not to backtrack on the “Green Deal” transformation of the EU economy to fight climate change – a key pledge for Green politicians, who joined centre-right, centre-left and liberal groups in backing her for the post.
After pledging to support Ukraine for as long as it takes in its fight against Russia, she claimed Europe’s liberty was at stake and it must invest more in defence.
Ms von der Leyen, a centre-right former German defence minister, pledged to create “a true European Defence Union”, with flagship projects on air and cyber defence.
MEPs pictured queuing to cast their ballots in Strasbourg The plan sparked criticism from Russia, which said it reflected an attitude of “militarisation (and) confrontation”.
Ms von der Leyen also criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as an “appeasement mission”, winning broad applause from politicians.
Defence policy in Europe has traditionally been the domain of national governments and NATO.
However, following Russia’s attack on Ukraine and amid uncertainty over how much Europe will be able to rely on the United States for its protection should Donald Trump win the US presidential election in November, the European Commission is seeking to push more joint European defence projects.
Ms von der Leyen also promised a raft of climate policies including a legally binding EU target to cut emissions 90% by 2040, compared to 1990 levels.
She also pledged new measures to help European industries stay competitive while they invest in curbing emissions.
Green support
The Greens’ decision to join the informal alliance of parties that supports Ms von der Leyen ensured her margin of victory was fairly comfortable.
She needed 361 votes to secure a majority in the chamber.
Her own coalition of the centre-right, centre-left and liberals has 401 seats, but some of its members were expected to vote against her in the secret vote.
She also promised tighter EU border controls and stronger police cooperation against crime.
Ms von der Leyen’s re-election provides continuity in the EU’s key institution at a time of external and internal challenges – including mounting support for far-right and eurosceptic political parties in the 27-nation bloc.
In the coming weeks, she will propose her team of commissioners, who will face individual hearings from politicians before a final vote on the whole Commission later in the year.