European Parliament

Ursula von der Leyen will have to wait a month before heading to the next European Commission, as the European Parliament rejected three candidate-commissioners, the institution's spokesman said Wednesday (16 October), Euractiv reported.

Ursula von der Leyen will have to wait a bit longer before she takes over as the next European Commission president after the European Parliament delayed a vote on the appointment of her team on Wednesday.

And in Hungary's local elections, the opposition retook power in Budapest and won mayoral races in 10 other cities.

The question now is whether these results augur a broader political shift in the region.

The independent candidate in the presidential elections, Mircea Diaconu, said on Wednesday, during a meeting with voters in Vaslui, that he is truly independent, although he is supported by political parties. He said that since 2014, when he ran for the European Parliament, he has been active only as an independent, exercising this status in a political group and in a political world.

Foreign Minister Ramona Manescu has sent a letter to the leaders of political parties in Romania saying that the human resources locally available abroad are limited for the November election of Romania's president, calling on the parties for help with conducting the voting process abroad under the best circumstances.

The Council of the European Union today agreed to the appointment of Laura Codruta Kovesi to be the first European chief prosecutor. The appointment must now also be confirmed by the European Parliament, according to a press statement released on Monday by the Council of the EU.

MEPs warn that there is a danger of foreign interference in elections.
Russian propaganda is the main source of misinformation in Europe. This is said in a resolution adopted by a large majority of the European Parliament.

MEPs call for a vigorous strategy against Russian misinformation and warn that there is a danger of foreign interference in elections.

President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the censure motion against the Social Democratic Party (PSD) government is a great success, warning that "the battle with PSD has not ended." "Done! Today Romania has won! Today, the vote of the Romanians cast on May 26 at the referendum is wholly, fully respected.

Nacho Sanchez Amor has been appointed as the new rapporteur on Turkey, the European Parliament said on Oct. 8.

EU Commission President-designate Ursula von der Leyen (C) arrives to attend the conference of Presidents of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, 19 September 2019. EPA-EFE/PATRICK SEEGER