Weber remains leader of largest European Parliament group
The German Christian Democrat was again backed by the EPP group, in which Dutchman Jeroen Lenaers will also take on a leadership role.
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Manfred Weber remains chairman of the EPP group in the European Parliament. According to the EPP, the German CSU politician was re-elected for a fifth time on Tuesday, for a term lasting until the end of the current parliamentary term in 2029.
Weber received 93.7 per cent of the votes cast, according to the EPP. In 2024, his support was still 95 per cent, according to Deutschlandfunk. There was no opposing candidate for the chairmanship of the centre-right group.
With 185 MEPs, the EPP group is the largest political group in the European Parliament. According to the EPP, it consists of parties from all EU member states, including Germany’s CDU and CSU, Austria’s ÖVP, Forza Italia and Spain’s Partido Popular.
With his re-election, Weber remains one of the central players in European legislation. According to the EPP, he has led the group since 2014. Tensions between the centrist groups could complicate negotiations on legislation, appointments and majorities.
The rest of the group leadership was also renewed. Dutchman Jeroen Lenaers of the CDA became one of the ten vice-chairs. This gives the Netherlands a formal place in the day-to-day leadership of the largest group in Parliament.
The election comes at a time when cooperation between the EPP, the centre-left S&D group and the liberal Renew group is under pressure. These three groups form the basis of the centrist majority that usually supports Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission.
According to Euronews, the EPP is increasingly seeking support from conservative and far-right groups on some issues, including migration and climate matters. This could strengthen Weber’s negotiating position, but also increase tensions with the parties that make up the traditional centrist majority.
For Dutch readers, the combination of Weber’s re-election and Lenaers’ appointment is particularly relevant. The result does not directly change European rules, but it does confirm who will have influence on behalf of the largest group over Parliament’s agenda and future compromises.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Manfred Weber has been re-elected chairman of the EPP group in the European Parliament.
- According to its own press release, the EPP group has 185 members and is the largest group.
- Jeroen Lenaers has been elected as one of the ten vice-chairs.
- According to Euronews, cooperation between the EPP, S&D and Renew is under pressure.
Left
Arguments A left-wing approach will emphasise that the EPP must take responsibility for a broad democratic majority and should not seek support from radical-right parties on every issue.
Values Social protection, climate policy, inclusive European cooperation and preventing the normalisation of the radical right are central.
Consequences From this perspective, a further shift to the right could lead to weaker climate policy, less protection for minorities and a less stable European compromise.
Centre
Arguments An institutional centrist position will emphasise that Weber must build bridges between groups and seek majorities issue by issue, without ruling out any cooperation in advance.
Values Governability, predictability, compromise and respect for parliamentary relations are central.
Consequences This approach can make decision-making possible, but requires continuous negotiations and may lead to less clear political choices.
Right
Arguments A right-wing approach will emphasise that the EPP must retain room to pursue stricter positions on migration, security and competitiveness, even when this requires support from outside the traditional centre.
Values National control, order, economic strength and a more restrained European government are central.
Consequences From this perspective, greater cooperation with conservative groups could better represent voters, but it also increases the likelihood of clashes within the pro-European majority.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts have been confirmed by the EPP group and Deutschlandfunk. The analysis of pressure on the centrist majority is supported by Euronews and has been presented as a development, not as a definite consequence.
- confirmed Manfred Weber was re-elected chairman of the EPP group in the European Parliament on 20 October 2026. — Reported by the EPP group and Deutschlandfunk. source
- confirmed Weber received 93.7 per cent of the vote and was re-elected for a fifth time. — Deutschlandfunk cites both figures. source
- confirmed The EPP group has 185 members and is the largest group in the European Parliament. — Given in the EPP group’s press release; Deutschlandfunk confirms that it is the largest group. source
- confirmed Jeroen Lenaers was elected as one of the ten vice-chairs. — Mentioned in the official composition of the new group leadership. source
- confirmed Cooperation between the EPP, S&D and Renew is under pressure. — Euronews describes tensions within the centrist majority. source
Editor's note
Weber’s re-election, the vote percentage, the size of the group and the appointment of Jeroen Lenaers were reported by the EPP and Deutschlandfunk. The broader tensions within Europe’s centrist majority are based on Euronews; the consequences for future negotiations remain uncertain.Sources
- Manfred Weber and the new EPP Group leadership team elected — EPP Group
- Weber als EVP-Chef bestätigt — Deutschlandfunk
- EU Parliament leaders set for re-election despite cracks in centrist alliance — Euronews
More on this in Dutch media
- AD — „europese unie”
- de Volkskrant — „europese unie”
- RTL Nieuws — „europese unie”