BERLIN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- German politicians congratulated Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday following her election as new president of the European Commission.
Chancellor Angela Merkel praised her former Defense Minister as a "staunch and convincing European" and was looking forward to good cooperation with her.
"Even though I am losing a long-standing minister today, I am winning a new partner in Brussels," said Merkel.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a letter to von der Leyen saying "I am convinced that you can succeed in regaining lost trust and unity" in Europe.
The election was followed closely in Germany as 4.5 million Germans had tuned in to watch the outcome of the vote of the European Parliament on Tuesday, according to viewing data from the public television broadcaster Das Erste.
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spoke of a "historic day for our Europe," noting that von der Leyen "comes from the political center, builds bridges and fights for the unity of Europe."
Although Merkel's government coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), had consistently rejected von der Leyen as Commission president, some members of the party became more welcoming following the result of the vote.
The trio of SPD chairs Malu Dreyer, Manuela Schwesig and Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel presented a list of political demands to von der Leyen.
"Europe needs more social balance as the foundation of our societies, a decisive policy for climate and environmental protection and a sustainable economy with strong workers' rights," they said in a statement.
Von der Leyen would need to help Europe "work more consistently for peace and justice in the world. This also includes a humane refugee policy," the SPD leaders demanded.
Markus Soeder, leader of the conservative Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), criticized the SPD on their position towards von der Leyen before the election, saying the result "is totally embarrassing for the German SPD".
"The Social Democrats must now explain to the citizens of Germany why they could not raise their hands on this day for someone from their own government, from the grand coalition," CDU leader Kramp-Karrenbauer told public broadcaster ARD on Wednesday.
"I do not understand the motives, I do not think many people in Germany do either," she added.
Germany's Green Party in the European Parliament had also voted against von der Leyen but not all German Greens were opposed to her thanks to von der Leyen's commitment to climate issues.
On Tuesday, former German Green party leader Cem Oezdemir wrote on Twitter that von der Leyen had focused on the "climate crisis, our Europe as a common community of values" and that if there was "more of that, then we have the chance of a good Commission."
Following von der Leyen's speeches in Brussels, Danyal Bayaz, member of the Greens in the German Bundestag, wrote that von der Leyen "deserved a leap of faith" because she had "stood up convincingly for Europe, climate protection and an open society."
