MEPs seek Commission President von der Leyen's resignation with censure motion

A group of European lawmakers has launched an inaugural for a no-confidence ballot against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, claiming to person collected much than nan required 72 signatures to formally taxable nan motion.

Although improbable to pass, nan censure mobility could pave nan measurement to broader consequences, replicating nan way that led successful nan 1990s to nan voluntary resignation of nan EU executive led by Jacques Santer.

The move comes successful consequence to a recent tribunal ruling criticising von der Leyen’s deficiency of transparency successful narration to nan alleged “Pfizergate” scandal, arsenic good arsenic broader allegations of bypassing nan European Parliament and centralising powerfulness wrong nan Commission.

Romanian hard-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea announced he would taxable nan mobility of censure this week, having gathered signatures from MEPs crossed astatine slightest 3 governmental groupings connected nan correct and far-right spectrum: nan European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), nan Patriots, nan European of Sovereign Nations group (ESN), arsenic good arsenic immoderate non-affiliated members.

Despite information from individual blimpish MEPs, nan inaugural does not officially correspond nan ECR group, which includes Italy’s ruling party, Fratelli d’Italia, led by Giorgia Meloni. “ECR MEPs participating successful this inaugural are doing truthful connected an individual basis,” a spokesperson clarified.

While nan period to initiate a no-confidence ballot is comparatively low, nan chances of removing von der Leyen and her Commission are slim. Such a mobility requires a two-thirds mostly successful nan 720-seat European Parliament.

“I dream different groups will subordinate nan motion, but I’m not naive,” Piperea told Euronews, acknowledging nan unlikelihood of success.

The 'Santer Commission' precedent

That is not nan nonstop purpose however.

“Still, we could stitchery a mates 100 votes, which whitethorn trigger a broader statement among politicians and nan public, perchance starring to her voluntary resignation,” said Piperea.

No-confidence votes are infrequent but historically important successful nan European Parliament. In 1999, nan full European Commission, led by Jacques Santer, resigned amid fraud allegations and transparency issues, contempt surviving a assurance vote.

Piperea, a lawyer by profession, said that moreover if nan mobility fails, it could service arsenic a valuable governmental tool.

“There seems to beryllium an unwritten norm that nan Commission, and von der Leyen successful particular, cannot beryllium held accountable for mistakes aliases failures. We must extremity this. In a democracy, location should beryllium accountability, oversight, and responsibility.”

The superior driver down nan mobility is nan ongoing “Pfizergate” controversy, centred connected von der Leyen’s refusal to disclose matter messages exchanged pinch Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during COVID-19 vaccine negotiations.

For this matter, nan EU tribunal precocious ruled against her. The mobility besides criticises her handling of legislative affairs, including nan withdrawal of biology proposals without due consultation pinch Parliament.

Unlikely cleanable large wind scenario

The tribunal ruling has amplified disapproval of von der Leyen crossed nan governmental spectrum, pinch socialists, liberals, and greens voicing interest complete her activity and transparency. According to Piperea, socialist MEPs are besides discontented pinch caller fund cuts to anti-poverty programmes.

Nonetheless, nan only script that could airs a existent threat to von der Leyen would apt beryllium a cleanable storm, successful which a wide scope of governmental groups—including members of her ain centre-right European People’s Party (EPP)—turn against her for different reasons.

The far-right origins of this inaugural whitethorn deter broader support for it however.

A root from The Left group, which has been among nan astir vocal opponents of von der Leyen and antecedently revenge its ain mobility of censure, expressed scepticism.

“Some delegations successful our group are powerfully committed to nan cordon sanitaire and debar practice pinch nan ECR,” nan root said.

“They’ve supported Commissioner Fitto during this instruction and didn’t backmost our earlier censure motion. This feels much for illustration a connection stunt.”

Piperea acknowledged nan ideological roadblocks. “Some groups aren’t afloat opposed to nan mobility itself, but they hesitate simply because it’s coming from nan right,” he said.