The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to face a rare vote of censure in the European parliament, a move that reflects growing uncertainty among MEPs about the rightward shift in EU policies. Although von der Leyen is unlikely to be ousted from office as a result of the vote, which is scheduled for Thursday, the debate preceding it has brought to light simmering unrest among centrist, center-left, and green lawmakers who are disillusioned with their decision to reappoint her after the 2024 elections, which saw a significant rise in support for right-wing nationalists.
The motion of censure, proposed by the far-right, vaccine-skeptic Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, takes issue with von der Leyen’s refusal to disclose text messages exchanged with the CEO of Pfizer during the height of the Covid pandemic. This resistance has been criticized by the EU’s highest court and described as maladministration. Furthermore, the motion includes objections to the EU’s Covid recovery funds and the legal basis of an €150 billion defense fund, as well as unsubstantiated claims of political interference in Germany and Romania’s recent elections.
Despite the motion receiving the backing of 76 MEPs, the support needed to appear on the parliament’s agenda, von der Leyen remains confident in her position. In a recent speech at the European parliament, she dismissed “false claims about election meddling” and the attempts to “rewrite history” regarding Europe’s response to the global pandemic. She framed the debate as part of a broader “struggle between democracy and illiberalism” and pointed out that some of the motion’s signatories represent parties “fueled by conspiracies.”
Nonetheless, behind the scenes, her administration is concerned that a significant number of abstentions from major political groups could undermine her reputation. The coalition that re-elected von der Leyen last year, including the center-right, center-left, centrists, and greens, mostly suffered losses to right-wing nationalists. The Center-right European People’s Party, to which von der Leyen belongs, has pledged its full support, while the opposition’s stance varies, with some indicating they will abstain.
This vote of censure, the first of its kind since 2014 when Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker faced a similar vote over the LuxLeaks scandal, comes at a time when the EU is grappling with a more tumultuous global landscape. The discontent among MEPs, the polarizing debate, and the broader political realignment highlight the challenges von der Leyen faces in maintaining unity among diverse ideological standings within the EU.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/10/ursula-von-der-leyen-censure-vote-european-parliament
