![Andreea Alexandru FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen waves, as European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, right, and Manfred Weber, head of the Group of the European People's Party, left, applaud at the end of the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania, on March 7, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted?. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/bbca28d826e74c0ba3070d6904ad3ee1/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen waves, as European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, right, and Manfred Weber, head of the Group of the European People's Party, left, applaud at the end of the EPP Congress in Bucharest, Romania, on March 7, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted?. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
![Omar Havana FILE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels, on March 22, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Omar Havana)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ff80efb03bdb459d8de5186782bc15cb/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrive for a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels, on March 22, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
![Thomas Padilla FILE - Leader of the French far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen, left and lead candidate of the party for the upcoming European election Jordan Bardella during a political meeting on June 2, 2024 in Paris. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ba5237dcc3fe441db528db822b6dcb9d/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Leader of the French far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen, left and lead candidate of the party for the upcoming European election Jordan Bardella during a political meeting on June 2, 2024 in Paris. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
![Geert Vanden Wijngaert FILE - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, speaks with Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni during a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels, on March 21, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ec7b1f4eae5f4d44912e87e0f5ad59be/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, left, speaks with Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni during a round table meeting at an EU Summit in Brussels, on March 21, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert, File)
![Geert Vanden Wijngaert FILE - From left, lead candidates for the European Parliament elections, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for the European People's Party and Nicolas Schmit, for the Party of European Socialists take part in a debate at the European Parliament in Brussels, on May 23, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/9ec28f5da3c64e8ba7348a915b4b8bf3/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - From left, lead candidates for the European Parliament elections, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for the European People's Party and Nicolas Schmit, for the Party of European Socialists take part in a debate at the European Parliament in Brussels, on May 23, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
![Cecilia Fabiano FILE - The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, address the media during a joint press conference on Sept. 17, 2023. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/0d8f8c74de1f44aabab1a452d6f47ecd/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, left, and Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, address the media during a joint press conference on Sept. 17, 2023. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
![Roberto Monaldo FILE - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, left, shares a light moment as she welcomes President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Jan. 29, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/5b68f74cfa0a4dc4ae20607e19b19496/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, left, shares a light moment as she welcomes President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Jan. 29, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
![Harry Nakos FILE - Protestors light fires during a farmers demonstration in the European Quarter outside a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels, on Feb. 26, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Harry Nakos)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/c2c06a97ebaa4f848d852ce3c6909f23/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Protestors light fires during a farmers demonstration in the European Quarter outside a meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Brussels, on Feb. 26, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted? (AP Photo/Harry Nakos)
![Omar Havana FILE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, on April 17, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted?(AP Photo/Omar Havana)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/32ecadb10fc34fc180a94811e07cf68c/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, right, speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Brussels, on April 17, 2024. It seemed like a throwaway line by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, yet it encapsulated what is at stake for many in this week's European Union parliamentary elections — What to do with the hard right? And should it be trusted?(AP Photo/Omar Havana)