For the first time this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will face a no-confidence motion in the European Parliament supported by a group of MEPs from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and other far-right groups. The debate on the no-confidence motion will take place this afternoon in the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, during which the Commission President will be called upon to answer questions from MEPs regarding the lack of transparency of the executive power. Ursula von der Leyen will seek a confidence vote from the European Parliament in a ballot to be held on Thursday, July 10, which will not be secret.
The no-confidence motion was tabled by MEP George Piperea (ECR, Romania), who accuses von der Leyen of lack of transparency in connection with the “Pfizergate” scandal. On July 2, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola announced that a no-confidence motion had been tabled against the “von der Leyen II” Commission, which meets the submission requirements.
Ursula von der Leyen: What preceded the no-confidence motion
The no-confidence motion is supported by 79 MEPs, who however have no chance of dethroning the German President of the European Parliament during Thursday’s midday vote. Several ECR MEPs, including Italian MEPs from Giorgia Meloni’s party, have distanced themselves from the no-confidence motion tabled by the Romanian MEP. However, the no-confidence motion is expected to be supported by some MEPs from “Europe of Sovereign Nations” and from the “Patriots for Europe,” including Jordan Bardella from France’s “National Rally.”
The leaders of the Social Democrats and Liberals (Renew) have stated they will give a confidence vote to von der Leyen, but today’s debate on the no-confidence motion could serve as an opportunity for tension release for the “pro-European” majority of the European Parliament. The Social Democrats and Liberals (Renew) regularly criticize von der Leyen for her increasingly vertical power structure, for questioning environmental rules, as well as for her cooperation with the ECR, such as with MEPs from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party.
“The EPP should carefully consider with whom it wants to build bridges, with us or with those who initiate no-confidence motions,” a Social Democrat spokesperson said.
For French Renew MEP Valérie Hayer, today’s debate could be a “real opportunity for political clarification” and “we will clearly ask the EPP with whom it wants to cooperate.”
For his part, EPP President Manfred Weber spoke of “Putin’s puppets in the European Parliament” who “try to undermine European unity and bring down the Commission in a period of global turmoil and economic crisis,” adding that “this is a shame for European citizens.”
