EPP to Form Centrist Stronghold: Von Der Leyen Responds to EU Election Results

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European People's Party (EPP) would form a centrist stronghold against extreme political factions. This came in response to EU election results showing EPP as the largest party, despite gains by far-right, Eurosceptic nationalist parties.

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) will build a bastion against the extremes from left and right, European Commission President and EPP member Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday.

Von Der Leyen made the comments in a first reaction to preliminary EU election results that showed the EPP as the biggest party although far-right, Eurosceptic nationalist parties were projected to have made the biggest gains.

"No majority can be formed without the EPP and together ... we will build a bastion against the extremes from the left and from the right", she said.