With 370 yes votes, 282 no votes and 36 abstentions, the plenary session of the European Parliament approved by open vote the team of the new European Commission chaired by Ursula von der Leyen.
The German popular leader obtained the mandate to form the Commission in July, with a secret ballot, with 401 yes votes. Now the vote that ratifies its installation, approved in Strasbourg by the plenum of the European Parliament with just 10 votes more than the absolute majority of those entitled to vote, which is 360 MEPs out of 720.
A figure equal to 51.39% of those entitled to vote, the worst result ever in European history.
"Today is a good day for Europe because the vote shows the strength of the center. I am very grateful for the confidence expressed by the European Parliament in the new college," Von der Leyen said at a press conference. "I will gather my team starting on Monday. And we will get to work," she added.
Among the Italian MEPs who voted against the Ursula bis Commission, the independent elected representatives on the PD list, Cecilia Strada and Marco Tarquinio. Also against were all 10 Italian elected representatives of the Left group, which includes representatives of the Italian Left and the M5S .
The 3 Green MEPs were always against: one of them was absent for maternity leave. Finally, the no of the 8 members of the Lega Nord of the Patriots group was compact. In total, therefore, 52 Italian MEPs voted yes and 23 no.
(Online Union)