The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has successfully navigated a confidence vote instigated by a far-right faction within the European Parliament. The vote, which was seen as a significant threat to her leadership, had uncommon implications for von der Leyen, who is still early in her second term, having assumed office only last July.
The motion required a two-thirds majority among the 720 Members of Parliament (MEPs)—or 480 votes—to pass. Ultimately, it failed, with 175 votes in favor, 360 against, and 18 abstentions, while several MEPs chose not to cast a ballot. The vote was prompted by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who criticized von der Leyen for a perceived lack of transparency regarding her communications with Pfizer during the Covid-19 vaccine negotiations. The motion alleged that her commission could no longer guarantee transparency and accountability, essential for democratic governance in the EU.
During a contentious debate preceding the vote, von der Leyen rebuked her critics, labeling them as "conspiracy theorists" and referring to their allegations about so-called "Pfizergate" as unfounded. The far-right's call for her resignation received backing from notable figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who took to social media to urge her departure. However, within Piperea's own European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, divisions emerged, particularly with members from Italy's Brothers of Italy party, who chose to stand with von der Leyen.
Ultimately, von der Leyen's survival can be attributed to the coalition of support from various political groups, including her own centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialist & Democrats (S&D), the liberal Renew group, and the Greens. However, in the run-up to the vote, concerns about her leadership style surfaced, particularly her growing ties with the far-right. Valérie Hayer, president of Renew Europe, cautioned that their support shouldn't be taken for granted and called for a reassessment of von der Leyen's alliances.
Amidst the looming vote, von der Leyen was participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Following the outcome, she expressed her gratitude on social media, emphasizing the need for unity in a time of external destabilization and reaffirming her commitment to European values.
The motion required a two-thirds majority among the 720 Members of Parliament (MEPs)—or 480 votes—to pass. Ultimately, it failed, with 175 votes in favor, 360 against, and 18 abstentions, while several MEPs chose not to cast a ballot. The vote was prompted by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who criticized von der Leyen for a perceived lack of transparency regarding her communications with Pfizer during the Covid-19 vaccine negotiations. The motion alleged that her commission could no longer guarantee transparency and accountability, essential for democratic governance in the EU.
During a contentious debate preceding the vote, von der Leyen rebuked her critics, labeling them as "conspiracy theorists" and referring to their allegations about so-called "Pfizergate" as unfounded. The far-right's call for her resignation received backing from notable figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who took to social media to urge her departure. However, within Piperea's own European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, divisions emerged, particularly with members from Italy's Brothers of Italy party, who chose to stand with von der Leyen.
Ultimately, von der Leyen's survival can be attributed to the coalition of support from various political groups, including her own centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialist & Democrats (S&D), the liberal Renew group, and the Greens. However, in the run-up to the vote, concerns about her leadership style surfaced, particularly her growing ties with the far-right. Valérie Hayer, president of Renew Europe, cautioned that their support shouldn't be taken for granted and called for a reassessment of von der Leyen's alliances.
Amidst the looming vote, von der Leyen was participating in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. Following the outcome, she expressed her gratitude on social media, emphasizing the need for unity in a time of external destabilization and reaffirming her commitment to European values.
