Since 2014, the Spitzenkandidat system was introduced to boost democratic legitimacy by linking voters to the European Commission president’s selection through party lead candidates. Used for Juncker and von der Leyen, it has fallen short: rather than fostering debate or accountability, it created institutional confusion, strengthened the Commission politically, and weakened Parliament’s oversight—resulting in a more partisan and less effective EU legislature. As von der Leyen’s re-election marks a year, a recent analysis published by the European Policy Center (EPC) urges rethinking the model, citing its failure to enhance legitimacy and raising questions about the EU’s political structure. Read more here.
Source: EPC
