After attacking 'Putin's friends': Von der Leyen refuses to work with people who are not pro-European, pro-NATO or pro-Ukraine | outside

“Those who are against the rule of law: impossible. “Putin’s friends: impossible,” von der Leyen said earlier today. “I only work with people who are pro-European, pro-NATO, pro-Ukraine, and who clearly support our democratic values,” the Commission President said. “Those who defend our democracy against Eurosceptics, those who defend our values ​​against Putin’s cronies: these are the people I want to work with.”

Von der Leyen rules out cooperation with the far-right Identity Party, but was asked during the press conference whether this also applies to the European Council for Reform, a heterogeneous faction of conservative, populist and Eurosceptic parties, which includes Poland's Law and Justice Party and Italy's Fratelli Party. 'Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the N-VA party. According to the president, these parties take “clear positions.” The German stressed that it is not yet clear what the group will look like after the elections.

Von der Leyen announced on Monday that she is seeking a second five-year term as President of the European Commission. On March 7, she will be elected as the best candidate of the European People's Party at a conference in Bucharest. The European umbrella of Christian Democratic and conservative parties, which also includes CD&V and Les Engagés, confirmed today that there are no opposition candidates.

During her announcement, von der Leyen also criticized Putin's “friends.” He said, “We must make it clear that our opponents, Putin and his friends, (…) want to destroy Europe.”