OUTGOING EUROPEAN COMMISSION president Ursula von der Leyen squared off against rivals vying to command the next European Commission in a debate today aired by the Eurovision broadcaster.

Would-be candidates argued over Ukraine, Gaza, the economy and other issues pressing on the European Union in a debate that was snubbed by far-right candidates.

However, discussion of the far-right - who are expected to surge and make significant gains in next month’s elections – dominated much of the proceedings.

The debate was organised by the non-EU body the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which also organises the Eurovision Song Contest. Facing off against von de Leyen were:

• Walter Baier (Austria, European Left)
• Sandro Gozi (Italy, Renew Europe Now),
• Terry Reintke (Germany, European Greens)
• Nicolas Schmit (Luxembourg, Party of European Socialists)

The EBU had also sent invitations to the two main extreme-right groupings in the European Parliament, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) groups, however they did not take part.

As Ursula von der Leyen party (European People’s Party) are expected to secure the most votes across the EU once again, she is currently frontrunner to retain the top commission job, though she won’t be taking anything for granted.

During the debate she was put on the spot repeatedly about her apparent willingness to ally with the far right after the June 6-9 European Parliament elections.

She said she will “will see” what groups and blocs emerge and emphasised that any collaboration would only be with pro-European lawmakers.

The conservative German politician also said any alliance would not extend to groups.

Gaza 

In the debate, von der Leyen was upbraided by left-wing rival Walter Baier, who asked:

“When will the European Union put sanctions on Israel to stop the murder in Gaza?”

She acknowledged that “the situation in Gaza is catastrophic” but stressed Hamas triggered the war with its 7 October attack on Israel.

Von der Leyen has come under fire from EU states recently for the strong support she has displayed for Israel.

While the EU has maintained and even increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, “I was always clear also with the government in Israel that Israel has the right to defend itself,” she said.

Ireland, Spain and Norway announced yesterday that they recognise the state of Palestine, drawing much global support but sharp condemnation from Israel.

Von der Leyen said that it was the EU’s duty to work for a two-state solution, but did not commit Brussels to follow suit.

Reintke, of the Greens political group, warned that an alliance between von der Leyen’s European People’s Party and the far right would roll back progress on the EU’s green transition.

She also said the EU needs a strategy to deal with the far right, which she called a security threat, given links some extreme-right parties have had with Putin.

On Ukraine, which is fighting off a Russian invasion ordered by Putin, von der Leyen said Europe needed to maintain military supplies to Kyiv and bolster its own defence capabilities, notably by building an “air defence shield”.

“First and foremost, we have to stand by Ukraine…. Ukraine is fighting for our values and all free nations,” she said. 

With reporting from AFP