Georgia sends kind wishes to 1st female elected new head of European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen will replace Jean-Claude Juncker at the end of October. Photo: Leyen’s Twitter page.
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Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has sent kind wishes to German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, who was elected the first female president of the European Commission yesterday.
Zurabishvili tweeted on her official Twitter page:
A sincere and warm congratulations to @vonderleyen, the President-elect of the @EU_Commission. Georgia sees in you the Europe we all need. I look forward to our working relationship in the near future. ???????????????? pic.twitter.com/uQ2BDxzaYd
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) July 16, 2019
Leyen is also the first German in the position for more than 50 years.
She will replace Jean-Claude Juncker in the role whose term expires on October 31.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze wrote:
My most sincere congratulations to @vonderleyen on her election as first female President of the European Commission! Look forward to working closely together to further advance & strengthen #Georgia-#EU ties and achieve greater goals in our relations!
— Mamuka Bakhtadze (@BakhtadzeMamuka) July 16, 2019
383 MEPs voted for Leyen, which was nine votes more than necessary to secure an absolute majority but below 400 that would have ensured a stable majority for her to push her policies through parliament over the next five years.
The trust you place in me is confidence you place in Europe. Confidence in a united and strong Europe, from east to west, from south to north. The confidence in a Europe that is ready to fight for the future rather than fight against each other,” she said after being elected.
I will ensure full #genderequality in my College of Commissioners. If Member States do not propose enough female Commissioners, I will not hesitate to ask for new names. pic.twitter.com/C528IZgl7Z
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 16, 2019
The European Commission is the EU's executive arm. It takes decisions on the Union's political and strategic direction.
The commission's work is steered by a team of 28 commissioners - one commissioner from each EU country. This team – officially known as the college – is led by the commission president.