Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, ahead of the leaders' summit, stated that he cannot support the reappointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the head of the European Commission, according to the press secretary of the Hungarian government, Zoltan Kovacs.
In particular, Orban stated that Hungary cannot support the extension of Ursula von der Leyen's mandate. He also accused her of using instruments to protect the rule of law against Hungary.
Additionally, Orban criticized the coalition formed by the largest political groupings - the European People's Party, Social Democrats, and Liberals - for appointing EU leadership, calling it a coalition of lies and deception. He emphasized that the agreements are based on party lines rather than programs or plans.
"This is a blatant power grab, and we have no reason to support such an abuse of power," PM Orban said.
The procedure for appointments to key positions in the European Union is quite complex. Specifically, approval is required from both the European Parliament and the leaders of EU member states. In the latter case, consensus isn't necessary; a qualified majority is required, meaning support from 15 out of 27 EU leaders representing at least 65% of the EU population.
An in-depth analysis of the factors influencing leadership changes in the European Union can be found in the article by RBC-Ukraine.