EU centrists’ deal paves way for von der Leyen to return as commission president

(From left) Estonia’s Kaja Kallas, Ursula von der Leyen and Portugal's Antonio Costa represent a political, geographical and gender balance, but Hungary’s Victor Orbán says the deal ‘sows the seeds of division’. Composite: Christophe Enadimitar Dilkoffludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

Ursula von der Leyen looks likely to clinch the nomination for a second term as European Commission president under a deal by EU leaders from the three pro-European political groups that sews up the bloc’s top jobs.

According to the agreement made by the centre-right European People’s party (EPP), the Socialists and the Liberals, von der Leyen will be nominated for a second five-year mandate at the head of the EU executive at a Brussels summit on Thursday.