A motion for a no-confidence vote against European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen, submitted during the European Parliament's plenary session on 2/7, has garnered the necessary minimum of 72 signatures. The parliament will debate the motion on July 7th, with the vote taking place three days later.
Romanian far-right member of parliament (MP) Gheorghe Piperea, who initiated the motion, criticized President von der Leyen's lack of transparency in refusing to disclose text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the Covid-19 pandemic. The European Union (EU) was negotiating vaccine purchases at the time.
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Von der Leyen speaks at the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on 26/6. Photo: AP |
Von der Leyen speaks at the EU summit in Brussels, Belgium, on 26/6. Photo: AP
Piperea also accused the EC of interfering in Romania's presidential election, leading to nationalist candidate George Simion's defeat by pro-EU politician Nicusor Dan.
This is the first no-confidence vote against an EC president since 2014. If von der Leyen loses the vote, all 27 EC commissioners will have to resign. This will happen if the motion receives the support of at least 361 of the 720 members of parliament.
Politico suggests the vote is largely symbolic, as most political groups in parliament, including Piperea's own ECR group, have indicated they will not support the motion. However, the vote reflects growing discontent with the EC president.
Von der Leyen served as Germany's defense minister under former Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2013 to 2019. In December 2019, she became the first female leader of the EC, the EU's main executive body. Forbes magazine named her the world's most powerful woman for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Politico)
