Von den Leyen elected as EU commission president

German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen was on Tuesday confirmed as the European Commission’s first female president.

Von der Leyen won the support of 383 of the 747 MEPs in the European parliament, nine votes more than needed for an absolute majority. She will succeed Jean-Claude Juncker on October 31, the day Britain is due to leave the EU.

She enraged eurosceptics by saying she would be open to a Brexit extension if a “a good reason” was presented.

“The trust you place in me is confidence you place in Europe. Confidence in a united and strong Europe, from east to west, from south to north,” she said after the vote.

“The confidence in a Europe that is ready to fight for the future rather than fight against each other.”