Impossible to work with 'Putin's friends' after EU elections, von der Leyen says
Ursula von der Leyen has ruled out working with political parties that are "Putin's friends" if she is re-elected president of the European Commission.
Transcript
00:00 EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is the only nominee to be the lead candidate
00:07 for the European People's Party. The EU's biggest party made the announcement in Brussels.
00:12 Von der Leyen revealed on Monday her plans to run for a second term. She has now visited
00:17 the EPP Group's meeting at the European Parliament, where she has gained the support of some Conservative
00:22 MEPs. Party boss Manfred Weber is confident in an election success.
00:27 When I became party president, we only had seven prime ministers and chancellors and
00:37 head of states and government on the EPP table. Today we have 12 and most probably we will
00:44 have in June this year 14 prime ministers, head of states and government in our ranks.
00:49 So I can tell you the EPP is back. According to the polls, though the European
00:55 People's Party will remain the biggest political group, they will need allies to achieve a
01:00 parliamentary majority. When asked about a possible cooperation with the Euro-sceptic
01:04 European Conservatives and Reformers Group, Ursula von der Leyen said where she drew the
01:09 line. The cut-off line is, do you stand for democracy?
01:15 Do you defend our values? Are you very firm in the rule of law? Are you supporting Ukraine?
01:22 And are you fighting against Putin's attempt to weaken and divide Europe? And these answers
01:30 have to be very clear. Von der Leyen's warning comes after Hungary's
01:35 Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed plans for his Fidetz party to join the ECR after
01:41 the elections. Orban was widely criticised for blocking the EU's efforts to help Ukraine
01:46 for several months. Another ECR member party to heed von der Leyen's warning could be the
01:50 Polish Law and Justice Party, which clashed with the EU over the rule of law backsliding.
01:56 [train sounds]
01:58 (whooshing)