The European Parliament has rejected a censure motion against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Von der Leyen survived the vote comfortably with 175 votes in favour of the motion, 360 against and 18 abstentions during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday.
The vote on the motion took place by roll call and to be adopted, would have needed support from a two-thirds majority of the votes cast (at least 361 votes).
The motion had been brought forward by MEP Gheorghe Piperea of the centre-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) parliamentary grouping. Losing the vote would have triggered the resignation of the EU executive and began the complex process of appointing 27 new commissioners.
The Romanian MEP received support from over 70 MEPs for the proposal, which has been charged by the “Pfizergate” fallout and criticism of the European Commission’s governance. The motion was regarded as largely symbolic. The motion had also contained allegations relating to alleged misuse of EU funds and interference in elections in Romania and Germany.
Speaking to the Telegraph this week, Mr Piperea, who entered politics last year, said: “I have succeeded in opening a Pandora’s box.” The lawyer also told the newspaper that Von der Leyen was a leader “with an obvious tendency towards totalitarianism.”
“The commission has progressively taken powers from the member states but also from the European Parliament itself,” he claimed.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola had told parliamentary group leaders about the development on Wednesday evening.
In May, an EU court ruled that the European Commission was wrong to refuse to release EU President Ursula von der Leyen’s messages with Pfizer chief Albert Bourla. EU judges ruled that the refusal broke the principles of good administration and transparency.
The motion of censure against the German politician, while unsuccessful, has highlighted concerns over lack of transparency and accountability in her leadership, according to EU law professor Alberto Alemanno, who told Euro News that “more people will ask if she is the right person for the job, regardless of the outcome.”
While Von der Leyen was not present for the vote, she wrote on social media: “As external forces seek to destabilise and divide us, it is our duty to respond in ine with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe.”
Reacting this afternoon, French MEP Sarah Knafo said that those who voted against the motion were “responsible for the harm [Von der Leyen] causes to our nations, our farmers, our industrialists, and our freedoms.”
Fabrice Leggeri, French MEP and former Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, also hit out at the vote, claiming on X that ideology had taken “precedence over the people.”
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