KKE MEP Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos (left) and the new EU Commission boss Ursula von der Leyen. |
Germany's Ursula von der Leyen has been narrowly elected president of the EU Commission following a secret ballot among MEPs.
The former defence minister of Merkel's government will replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on 1 November. She secured the backing of more than half of the members of the European parliament on Tuesday evening.
"It is a big responsibility and my work starts now," von der Leyen said in her first speech immediately after the vote and added. "Let us work together constructively."