Ursula von der Leyen Survives Censure Vote Amid Calls for Change in EU Direction

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has narrowly avoided a significant blow to her leadership following a censure vote in the European Parliament. Expected to triumph in the vote, von der Leyen ultimately secured her position with 360 votes against the motion, while 175 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) supported it, and 18 abstained. This censure motion, proposed by far-right Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, revolved primarily around von der Leyen's refusal to disclose text messages exchanged with the CEO of Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her hesitance to release these communications has been met with criticism from the EU's highest court and labeled as maladministration by an independent watchdog. The censure motion not only addressed the transparency issue but also critiqued the EU's COVID recovery funds and the legal framework surrounding a substantial defense fund amounting to €150 billion ($129 billion). Allegations of interference in recent elections in Germany and Romania further fueled the motion's justification. Piperea garnered support from 76 like-minded nationalists and extremists, achieving the requisite threshold for the motion's inclusion. Despite the potential severity of the censure motion, von der Leyen managed to retain her position. A critical factor was the last-minute decision by the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) group to oppose the motion instead of abstaining. Iratxe García Pérez, the S&D leader, emphasized that dismantling the commission amid ongoing geopolitical instability would be reckless. Despite supporting von der Leyen, she expressed concern over a perceived shift towards far-right ideologies, urging the Commission President to refocus on priorities such as economic togetherness, social justice, and green transitions. During the debate preceding the vote, von der Leyen did not attend the session in Strasbourg as she was engaged in a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in Rome. However, she later expressed gratitude via social media, indicating that during tumultuous global times, the EU requires strength and vision. The Commission President remarked on the struggle between democracy and extremism, condemning parties and individuals who propagate conspiracy theories and misinformation. Political analysts have highlighted the implications of the vote. Abstentions from mainstream groups during the vote could signal dissent from von der Leyen's political strategies and policies. While her survival may not directly be attributed to the Pfizer controversy, experts suggest it reveals deeper political rifts within the European Parliament that could influence future governance. Just a year ago, von der Leyen was re-elected to a second term as Commission President, receiving broad support from centrist, center-left, and green factions, after the 2024 European elections yielded unprecedented victories for right-wing populists. As the European People's Party (EPP) cautiously defends its coalition with the far-right, calls for re-evaluation of policies have intensified across the political spectrum. The last censure motion against a Commission President was brought against Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014 concerning the LuxLeaks scandal, revealing the rarity and significance of such measures in the European Union. As the political landscape continues to evolve, von der Leyen's leadership will undoubtedly be under increasing scrutiny from both allies and adversaries alike. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2 • Source 3 • Source 4 • Source 5 • Source 6