European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected not to pursue a third mandate as head of the EU’s executive body, according to two senior officials cited by Politico. The discussion reportedly emerged during a private dinner where internal Commission dynamics and leadership plans were also addressed.
At the meeting, von der Leyen’s chief of staff Björn Seibert sought to ease concerns related to an ongoing internal debate over restructuring plans within the Commission. Some officials have criticized the leadership approach as overly centralized, arguing that decision-making power has become increasingly concentrated at the top.
As part of the discussion, Seibert reportedly pointed to von der Leyen’s lack of intention to remain in office beyond her current mandate in 2029, framing it as a counterpoint to concerns over long-term power consolidation within the institution.
A European Commission spokesperson later said von der Leyen is fully focused on her current term and immediate EU priorities, including high-level international meetings.
“Ursula von der Leyen is fully focused on the current mandate and the key challenges that Europe faces today,” the spokesperson said, adding that “this includes the G7 summit and the European Council meeting, which will take place this week.” The spokesperson also noted that broader questions about 2029 would be addressed at a later stage.
