Von der Leyen campaign’s ‘hot phase’ expected in May – EPP source

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to start an “intensive” EU election campaign in May with several “thematic” events across Europe, a source familiar with the matter from the European People’s Party (EPP) headquarters in Brussels told Euractiv.

“It will be an intensive campaign and its hot phase is expected in May,” the source from the conservative EPP said, adding that the Commission chief considers having “at least seven thematic events across the bloc”.

The precise content of these events, the source explained, has not been decided yet.

Euractiv understands that these thematic events will be organised in member states and will be coordinated with the national EPP members from countries where the events will take place.

Topics are likely to touch upon highly political debates and issues close to the voters’ hearts, such as regulating migration, protecting businesses, or safeguarding democracy.

May will be an important month for the incumbent Commission president because most negotiations on legislative files will have finished and von der Leyen will have the space to present her record to the voters.

Von der Leyen, a former German defence minister who was a surprise pick for the Commission chief in 2019, was named the lead candidate of her political family last week during an EPP congress in Bucharest, launching her bid for a second mandate.

Even though the announcement was widely expected, she has yet to start political campaigning across the continent, as the EPP is looking to secure votes to remain the largest political force in the hemicycle after the June’s EU elections, and form strong alliance with other right wing, liberal, and left-wing parties.

Asked if the campaign was being launched late, given that it will leave only a few weeks before the elections on 7-9 June, the source replied that some legal budgetary requirements could not be sorted out before von der Leyen was officially elected as the EPP’s lead candidate on 7 March.

“Von der Leyen wants this campaign to be open to media and have interaction with journalists,” the source added.

Staff announced in couple of weeks

The official announcements about people who will lead the campaign will be made in early April, the EPP source said, stressing that it was not yet known who the spokesperson would be.

However, the rumour mill in Brussels points to Jens-Alexander Flosdorff, currently the executive communication adviser in von der Leyen’s cabinet.

The source said von der Leyen’s team will be “multinational” and comprise both people from her inner circle as well as members from the EPP headquarters in Brussels.

[Edited by Aurélie Pugnet/Zoran Radosavljevic]