After a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and a major war in Europe, not many feel nostalgia for the past five years. Ursula von der Leyen soon might.

On Thursday, Ms. von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, secured European Parliament approval to lead the European Union’s executive branch for a second five-year term.

It looks set to be even messier than the first, if that is possible. With the war in Ukraine in its third year and the prospect of a second Trump administration looming, the world is becoming a very different place from the one Ms. von der Leyen has helped the European Union navigate since 2019.

Not least, Europe’s own politics continue to be roiled by a nationalist far right whose strong showing in E.U.-wide elections in June threatened to deny her a new term. A German conservative politician, Ms. von der Leyen was confirmed after a decisive approval vote at the Parliament on Thursday.

She got 401 votes in favor — 40 more than the 361 required for the majority of the 720-seat assembly.

Ms. von der Leyen, 65, was previously largely unknown in Europe, having served in cabinets in Germany under the Chancellor Angela Merkel without much distinction. She emerged from the wings in 2019 as the bloc leaders’ pick for the commission president role, leaving observers perplexed given her inexperience and lack of profile.