Rarely do such confidence votes take place—previously seen over a decade ago against Jean-Claude Juncker. For the motion to pass, a two-thirds majority of the 720 Members of Parliament (MEPs) would have been required, but only 175 voted in favor, while 360 opposed the motion and 18 abstained, with others not participating.
Initiated by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, the vote was centered around accusations that von der Leyen lacked transparency in her communications with Pfizer during the COVID-19 vaccine negotiations. Piperea's motion claimed von der Leyen's commission could not be trusted to uphold the essential principles of transparency and accountability for a democratic Union. During a heated parliamentary debate, von der Leyen labeled her accusers as "conspiracy theorists," claiming that the allegations around "Pfizergate" were untrue and branded her critics as "extremists," "anti-vaxxers," and "Putin apologists."
Notably, the motion received some backing from prominent figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, Piperea's European Conservatives and Reformists group saw division, as a significant number consisting of members from Italy's Brothers of Italy (FdI) voted against the motion, being supportive of von der Leyen.
Ultimately, von der Leyen's survival can be credited to her coalition with the European People's Party (EPP), the Socialist and Democrats (S&D), the liberal Renew Europe, the Greens, and additional left-leaning groups. However, the lead-up to the vote revealed cracks in support, with leaders like Valérie Hayer of Renew Europe cautioning that ongoing support was "not guaranteed." Critics expressed concerns over von der Leyen's increasingly aligned positions with far-right agendas on migration and environmental policies.
While deliberations were active, von der Leyen was addressing the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Following the vote's outcome, she expressed gratitude through social media, affirming the need for unity in facing external destabilizing forces. "Thank you, and long live Europe," von der Leyen concluded, underscoring her commitment to the EU's core values.
Initiated by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, the vote was centered around accusations that von der Leyen lacked transparency in her communications with Pfizer during the COVID-19 vaccine negotiations. Piperea's motion claimed von der Leyen's commission could not be trusted to uphold the essential principles of transparency and accountability for a democratic Union. During a heated parliamentary debate, von der Leyen labeled her accusers as "conspiracy theorists," claiming that the allegations around "Pfizergate" were untrue and branded her critics as "extremists," "anti-vaxxers," and "Putin apologists."
Notably, the motion received some backing from prominent figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, Piperea's European Conservatives and Reformists group saw division, as a significant number consisting of members from Italy's Brothers of Italy (FdI) voted against the motion, being supportive of von der Leyen.
Ultimately, von der Leyen's survival can be credited to her coalition with the European People's Party (EPP), the Socialist and Democrats (S&D), the liberal Renew Europe, the Greens, and additional left-leaning groups. However, the lead-up to the vote revealed cracks in support, with leaders like Valérie Hayer of Renew Europe cautioning that ongoing support was "not guaranteed." Critics expressed concerns over von der Leyen's increasingly aligned positions with far-right agendas on migration and environmental policies.
While deliberations were active, von der Leyen was addressing the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Following the vote's outcome, she expressed gratitude through social media, affirming the need for unity in facing external destabilizing forces. "Thank you, and long live Europe," von der Leyen concluded, underscoring her commitment to the EU's core values.
