Von der Leyen signals no third term as EU chief

Ursula von der Leyen does not intend to seek a third term as European Commission president in 2029, according to Politico, citing two senior officials.politico
Her chief of cabinet, Bjoern Seibert, conveyed the message privately amid concerns that a departmental reorganization was designed to centralize her power.politico+1
Von der Leyen, who began her second term in late 2024, survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament in July 2025.pbs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen does not intend to run for a third term when her current mandate expires in 2029, according to a report by Politico published on Wednesday, citing two senior officials familiar with the matter.politico+1

A Private Reassurance

Bjoern Seibert, von der Leyen's chief of cabinet and longtime right-hand man, reportedly conveyed the message at a private dinner with senior officials. The disclosure was intended to address growing concerns among Commission staff and EU diplomats that a planned restructuring of Commission departments was designed to centralize authority under the current president rather than serve institutional purposes.nampa+1

Von der Leyen, who will turn 70 in 2029, has led the Commission since December 2019 and began her second term on December 1, 2024, after securing re-election with 401 votes in the European Parliament in July 2024. No Commission president has ever served three terms.europarl.europa

Context of Power Concerns

The signal comes at a time when von der Leyen's leadership style has drawn scrutiny. She survived a vote of no confidence in the European Parliament in July 2025, comfortably defeating a censure motion by a vote of 360-175. Critics have long pointed to the outsized influence of her inner circle, with Seibert himself described by Politico as "the ultimate behind-the-scenes Brussels power broker".pbs+1

The planned reorganization of Commission services had fueled speculation that von der Leyen was positioning herself or her allies for an extended hold on power. By having Seibert explicitly rule out a third bid, her office appears to be reframing the restructuring as a legacy-building exercise rather than a power grab.

What Comes Next

The announcement, while informal, opens a new chapter in Brussels succession politics more than three years before the next European elections. It could reshape how commissioners, EU capitals, and political families within the European Parliament begin positioning candidates for 2029 — a process that typically intensifies in the final years of a Commission's mandate.

Sources (28)