Von der Leyen’s plan to save the center
Brussels
Playbook
By
GABRIEL GAVIN
By Gabriel Gavin
September 11, 2025 7:00 am CET
https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/von-der-leyens-plan-to-save-the-center/
GOOD
MORNING. If there’s one nation that knows how to protest, it’s the French. So
imagine my surprise to be waking up in Brussels after taking the late-night
train from Strasbourg via Paris. It arrived with only minor delays on a day
when anti-government demonstrators had pledged to “block everything” and set
fires and obstructed highways across the country. The public discontent may end
up derailing the new administration of Sébastien Lecornu, but it seemingly
won’t stop the Eurostar.
The
equally unstoppable Sarah Wheaton will be keeping Playbook on the tracks
tomorrow.
DRIVING
THE DAY: PROTECT THE PLATFORM
COALITION
OF THE GRILLING: The coming days will be make or break for Ursula von der
Leyen’s fragile coalition of pro-EU political groups. For weeks, the centrist
Renew Europe and center-left Socialist and Democrat (S&D) factions she
depended on for re-election as Commission president just last year have
complained that their priorities are being ignored while her center-right
European People’s Party (EPP) runs the show alone.
How do
you like me now? Wednesday’s State of the European Union in Strasbourg was
designed to reset relations, with a slate of dramatic policy pledges that drew
applause from Parliament’s mainstream lawmakers. Von der Leyen vowed to
eliminate poverty by 2050; promised a housebuilding package to end
homelessness; floated new workers’ rights protections; doubled down on climate
targets; and, in a bombshell development, slammed the humanitarian crisis in
Gaza, proposing sanctions against key Israeli government figures.
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“I want
to work with this House and with all pro-European democratic forces to deliver
for Europeans,” von der Leyen declared, offering olive branches to her
disgruntled partners. But will it be enough?
First
verdict: “Von der Leyen struck some right notes — on trade with Israel, ‘Made
in Europe’ procurement, climate goals, AI and tech sovereignty, to name a few,”
Renew President Valérie Hayer told our ace parliamentary reporter Max Griera.
“We welcome that substance. But the real test is accountability: member states
and the EPP must follow through.”
Seeing
red: Iratxe García, chair of the S&D, the second-largest faction in
Parliament behind the EPP, told POLITICO she welcomed von der Leyen’s
commitment to proposals that are consistent “with many of our key priorities …
this is the result of our hard work at all levels during the last year.”
However, she added that “some of them, as the announcement on Gaza, arrive too
late.”
Platform,
shmatform: In an apparent warning shot to the EPP, García said that while her
group “will always be committed to work with the pro-European and democratic
forces,” it will do so “with or without the platform” — the informal coalition
between the EPP, S&D and Renew which holds von der Leyen’s second term
afloat. If the S&D were to walk away, there would be no guarantee the
president would win another confidence vote of the kind being tabled this week
by the far left and far right.
With
friends like these: It’s little wonder that García isn’t happy. Just seconds
after von der Leyen finished her feel-good, unifying speech, EPP leader Manfred
Weber took the podium and launched an attack on the Spanish socialist, accusing
García of “splitting the platform” by criticizing the pending U.S. trade deal.
Hitting back, the S&D chief described Weber as “the main enemy” of unity.
“You did your best but now you can see who is responsible for the European
alliance and platform not working in this house,” she told von der Leyen.
Don’t you
agree? The spat, which surprised Berlaymont officials and parliamentarians
alike, sparked chatter of a divide between Weber and von der Leyen. Some
lawmakers from her own party have complained publicly about the content of the
speech, especially von der Leyen’s remarks about Israel and her insistence on
the pace of the Green transition. Weber himself refused to echo her calls for a
tough 2040 climate target, speaking only of a 2050 goal instead. According to
Renew’s Hayer, “the question is whether she can turn pro-European words into
real impact — and discipline her party to make the centrist platform a
success.”
The far
right is enjoying the divide: Jordan Bardella, chair of the Patriots for Europe
group — and, if polls are to be believed, the possible next president of France
— told reporters he was struck that von der Leyen “was perhaps more applauded
by the left than by her own troops.” Hard-right lawmakers heckled throughout
the speech, howling at the planned rule of law reforms and support for electric
vehicles.
Schnide
remark: But pity Christine Schneider, a German EPP lawmaker who was called out
by Parliament President Roberta Metsola for repeatedly shouting down von der
Leyen and threatened with expulsion from the chamber. One problem — she wasn’t
actually there. Schneider’s team told Playbook there must have been a
misunderstanding, given she was watching the State of the Union remotely and
wasn’t attending in person.
GAZA
CRISIS
EU-ISRAEL
RELATIONS: One shock announcement in the State of the Union was the proposed
partial suspension of trade ties with Israel, stopping the flow of some funding
to the country and introducing “sanctions on the extremist ministers and on
violent settlers.” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar immediately denounced
the move as “echoing the false propaganda of Hamas,” as we reported here.
Mixed
reactions: Greens MEP Ignazio Marino remained standing throughout most of the
speech in silent protest. He told Playbook that von der Leyen “wanted to please
the Parliament” but should have gone further and blocked weapons exports to
Israel. However, Spanish S&D MEP Hana Jalloul Muro, a prominent advocate
for the rights of Palestinians, said it was a “pretty good effort” by the
Commission president.
Center-right
alarm: Again though, it’s von der Leyen’s own party that has the most
reservations. German EPP MEP Hildegard Bentele posted on X that she was
“shocked by the imbalance” of the measures and accused the Commission of giving
up its leverage over Israel.
INTERNAL
DISSENT: Von der Leyen has been under increasing pressure to act — and two of
her own commissioners, Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera and emergencies
chief Hadja Lahbib, joined the ranks of politicians wearing red in the chamber
as a show of support for Palestine. Staffers have also staged protests and
signed open letters calling for a more forceful response.
In the
spirit of rebuilding bridges, von der Leyen wrote to all Commission staff
following the delivery of the speech Wednesday night. “Allow me to mention one
issue that I know is close to the heart of so many of you: the unbearable
tragedy of Gaza,” she said in the communiqué obtained by our own Jacopo
Barigazzi. “What is happening in Gaza is unacceptable. This is why I have put
forward a package of proposals that can make a real difference.”
Cautiously
optimisitic: One Commission employee who had helped organize the petitions
welcomed the news there was “finally” a shift on policy, but said they wanted
to see more information before drawing firm conclusions.
NO
RESOLUTION? The EPP is now refusing to back the Parliament’s first resolution
on Gaza, drafted by Renew, S&D and the Greens, which threatens to derail
the effort when MEPs vote on it Thursday. Negotiators from the groups have
tried for the past two days to overcome their divisions, but ultimately the EPP
walked out, Max writes in to report. The group is seeking amendments that would
water down the content, like deleting a call to end the famine and substituting
it with language about increasing humanitarian aid.
But …
Given the right-wing bloc is split on the issue, some lawmakers could break
ranks and vote in favor. “We believe it will pass with a large majority, with
support from the Socialists, Greens, Liberals, and part of the EPP,” an EPP
official told POLITICO. “Ultimately, we hope that common sense will prevail in
the face of this terrible situation.”
The
disagreement: According to Belgian MEP Hilde Vautmans, the liberal negotiator
on the file, the resolution will pass if everyone can agree on what she calls
“simple facts”: that there is a man-made famine in Gaza, that sanctions should
be imposed on Israel (including reviewing trade relations), that a two-state
solution is needed and that the International Court of Justice should determine
whether genocide has occurred based on the evidence.
Can von
der Leyen save the talks? The Socialists, liberals and Greens intend to
pressure the EPP into agreeing with the resolution by arguing that Parliament
needs to deliver a unified position — particularly given that EU governments
have consistently failed to agree on a common Israel strategy.
RUSSIA’S
WAR
JOINT
EFFORT: A high-level EU technical team discussing how to squeeze Russia’s war
chest will return from Washington today, as expectations grow that a new joint
push could be announced within days to force Vladimir Putin to negotiate.
Brussels’ sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan debriefed ambassadors on Wednesday
about his own trip to the U.S., where he was hoping to agree a joint approach.
Watch
this space: While there has been no immediate breakthrough on key issues — like
that fact that, according to officials, the EU wants sanctions and President
Donald Trump wants tariffs — the discussions are now at an advanced stage.
Trump had demanded the EU follow his lead and put 100 percent tariffs on India
and China.
The
Wright stuff: In a sign of how closely the two sides are now working together,
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is in Brussels today to lock in Europe’s
plans to replace Russian energy with American gas as part of a $750 billion
deal agreed with Trump.
Sanx a
lot: Speaking to Playbook in Strasbourg, Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen said
the priority for the meeting would be: “How can we help each other stop the
inflow of Russian energy? How can we help each other stop the profits Russia
are making on selling energy not only to Europe but globally? And how can we
help Ukraine?”
ALLIES
STAND WITH POLAND: French, German, British, Dutch and Ukrainian leaders
expressed solidarity with Warsaw and pledged to help provide concrete support
for the country’s air defense during an emergency call after a wave of Russian
drones breached its airspace Wednesday, according to Prime Minister Donald
Tusk.
The White
House weighs in: Polish President Karol Nawrocki phoned President Trump to
discuss the security incident last night. Before they spoke, Trump posted on
social media: “What’s with Russia violating Poland’s airspace with drones?” If
you’re wondering the same, our Defense Editor Jan Cienski has a must-read
explainer on the situation.
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