On Friday 5 April, the European Commission and the European People’s Party (EPP) announced that President Ursula von der Leyen’s current Head of Cabinet, the German Björn Seibert, will become director of her campaign as the EPP’s lead candidate (‘Spitzenkandidat’) in the European elections. Austrian EU official Alexander Winterstein, a former spokesperson for the EU institution, will become the chief spokesperson for candidate von der Leyen.
This campaign team will be in place from Monday 8 April. Mr Seibert has applied for temporary unpaid leave from Saturday 6 April until Sunday 9 June, the day of the European elections. Ms von der Leyen will kick off her campaign with a speech in Athens on Sunday 7 April, at the congress of the Néa Dimokratía party of Greek Prime Minister Kyriákos Mitsotákis, who supported her nomination (see EUROPE 13366/1).
Mr Seibert’s leave of absence is in line with the guidelines applicable when European Commissioners, European officials and/or Commission staff are involved in the European election campaign (see EUROPE 13335/22).
Approved after consultation with the European Parliament, these guidelines, which were fleshed out in 2024, aim to make a clear distinction between professional activities within the Commission and election campaign activities. For example, the ‘Spitzenkandidat’ of the European Socialists, Nicolas Schmit, is travelling at the expense of the ‘Party of European Socialists’ to attend the congress of a national party. However, as he has not taken temporary leave, he may be accompanied by a member of his cabinet responsible for making progress on the dossiers linked to his portfolio as European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, according to Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer.
These guidelines apply only during the European election campaign period, i.e. until 9 June. Afterwards, Mr Seibert will be able to return to his duties although, subject to the election results, Ms von der Leyen could be called upon to convince the European Council to propose her to the European Parliament for a second term in charge of the Commission, and to convince the future Parliament to elect her.
At this stage, said Mr Mamer, there is no internal discussion on a possible extension of the application of the guidelines over the period leading up to the election of the Commission President by the European Parliament.
On Friday, Ms von der Leyen appointed the Irishman Anthony Whelan, her current Digital Adviser, as acting Head of Cabinet for the duration of Mr Seibert’s leave. Her Diplomatic Adviser, the Portuguese Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, will assume the role of Sherpa for the G20 and G7 for the same period.
In early March, the European Commission appointed Mr Winterstein Director of Communications and Political Services (see EUROPE 13364/23). According to Mr Mamer, there was “absolutely no link” between the two appointments, as the EPP’s proposal for the election campaign was “extremely recent”. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)