EU Commission boss von der Leyen elected for second term

Ursula von der Leyen addresses lawmakers before a vote to choose the next President of the European Commission, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

STRASBOURG (Reuters) -Ursula von der Leyen won a second term as president of the European Commission on Thursday after pledging to create a continental "defence union" and to stay the course on Europe's green transition while cushioning its burden on industry.

Members of the European Parliament backed von der Leyen's bid for another five-year term at the helm of the European Union's powerful executive body with 401 votes in her favour and 284 against in a secret ballot in the 720-member chamber.