EU Commission President Survives No-Confidence Vote

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has decisively survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, after a motion led by far-right lawmakers failed to gain traction.

The vote, held on Thursday, saw 360 members reject the proposal, with 175 in support and 18 abstentions.

Although widely expected to fail, the vote exposed internal disagreements among her supporters and growing dissatisfaction with von der Leyen’s leadership style. 

The motion was initiated by Romanian far-right MEP Cristian Terheș and gained support from lawmakers critical of her handling of transparency, particularly in the case known as “Pfizergate.”

The controversy stems from von der Leyen’s refusal to release text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations for COVID-19 vaccine purchases. Critics, including several anti-vaccine groups and media outlets like *The New York Times*, have demanded access to the communications, which remain undisclosed. The issue has led to formal complaints and calls for greater accountability within the Commission.

During her address to the Parliament this week, von der Leyen dismissed the no-confidence motion as a conspiracy-driven effort to fracture Europe. She described her opponents as anti-vaccine and sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing the need for unity amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and the war in Ukraine.

She urged lawmakers to reaffirm their confidence in the Commission, highlighting the importance of European unity in light of critical issues ranging from EU-US trade talks to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.

In addition to the vaccine transparency issue, Terheș accused the Commission of interfering in Romania’s recent presidential elections. He alleged undue influence in favor of pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan, who won the May vote following the annulment of an earlier round due to procedural irregularities and suspected Russian interference.

The Commission also came under scrutiny for unexpectedly threatening to withdraw a draft law on corporate greenwashing, legislation many MEPs had worked on for months. The move triggered backlash among centrist lawmakers, who saw it as an infringement on the legislative powers of Parliament.

Despite the criticisms, von der Leyen continues to receive backing from centrist and mainstream parties. French MEP Valérie Hayer, head of the Renew Europe group, confirmed her support and noted that von der Leyen remains actively engaged across a wide range of policy issues.

No European Commission has ever been removed by a vote of no confidence. The closest precedent occurred in March 1999, when the Commission under Jacques Santer resigned preemptively after a scathing report on fraud and mismanagement.