The Daily Star Ireland
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has withstood a no-confidence vote brought forward in the European Parliament, largely initiated by far-right lawmakers accusing her administration of violating legal norms and eroding public trust in the European Union.
Outcome of the Vote
The motion, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, ultimately failed to gather enough support. Of the voting members, 175 supported the censure, 360 voted against it, and 18 abstained. The outcome was largely anticipated, though the vote itself underscored political tensions within the EU’s governing institutions.
Romanian nationalist MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who spearheaded the initiative, cited multiple grievances with von der Leyen’s leadership. Chief among them was the Commission’s unwillingness to release text message exchanges between von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Piperea described the Commission’s recent behavior as “opaque and discretionary,” claiming it raised concerns about possible corruption and misuse of power.
He further criticized what he called the “obsessive bureaucracy” of the EU, particularly pointing to the financial and social costs associated with the bloc’s climate change initiatives.
Von der Leyen Defends Her Leadership
In her address to Parliament ahead of the vote, von der Leyen stood by her decisions during the pandemic, arguing that her administration’s strategy ensured fair access to vaccines for all EU member states. She rejected claims of misconduct and highlighted the importance of coordinated European action during global crises.
Although the no-confidence motion was unlikely to succeed from the outset, it represented a political challenge for von der Leyen at a sensitive time. Her Commission is currently in delicate negotiations with the U.S. administration led by President Donald Trump, aiming to avoid the imposition of sweeping tariffs on European exports. The motion, even if unsuccessful, introduced an unwelcome distraction during this critical diplomatic effort.
Broader Implications
This was the first such motion faced by a European Commission president in over a decade. The last occurred in 2014, when then-president Jean-Claude Juncker similarly survived a vote of no-confidence. While von der Leyen remains in office, the vote signals growing frustration among some factions within the European Parliament and may foreshadow increased scrutiny as she navigates major international and domestic policy hurdles.
