Ursula von der Leyen has taken a tough line against China in public. But frustration with Beijing’s subsidies is at odds with key manufacturers’ need for affordable green-transition components. With her job on the line,

While von der Leyen ruled out a pact with the most extreme rightwing grouping, Identity and Democracy — which includes France’s Marine Le Pen — she was more equivocal when it came to working with the ECR, which is backed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Commission president, who is seeking another term, took aim at group that includes AfD and National Rally in pre-election debate

Ursula von der Leyen posed for a photograph doting over her first-born grandchild. “#ProudGrandma” read the caption – giving a rare glimpse into the personal life of Europe’s most powerful woman, who has seven children.

The Party of European Socialists declared it would not work with far-right forces in the next European Parliament, a political declaration aimed at their conservative rivals, the European People’s Party (EPP), which has opened the door to some right-wing parties.

The top contenders to preside over the European Commission are on Monday scheduled to face off against the incumbent – and frontrunner.

Ursula von der Leyen takes part alongside representatives from seven other parties as EU gears up for European parliament elections

Ursula Von der Leyen was told Brussels has "become a swamp" in last night's debate between the eight candidates standing to be the next EU Commission President. Anders Vistisen, the candidate for the right-wing Identity and Democracy group,