Ursula von der Leyenthe head of the European Commission, maintained her position after the European Parliament rejected two applications for vote of no confidence. The proposals were submitted by two extreme political factions: the right-wing Patriots for Europe and the left-wing Left Group.
The first motion was rejected by 383 MEPs, the second by 378. The European Parliament currently has 720 members, and to adopt a vote of no confidence a two-thirds majority is needed, which also represents a majority of EP members. Both motions for a vote of no confidence were supported by Law and Justice MEPs. If a vote of no confidence was adopted, the entire European Commission would have to resign.
Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the voting results. “I appreciate the strong support we have received. The Commission will continue to work closely with the European Parliament to address the challenges Europe faces,” she wrote on the X Platform.
Controversy surrounding Ursula von der Leyen. Agreement with the USA and Mercosur
The Left Group accused the President of the European Commission of agreeing to something that was unfavorable for Europe agreement with the United Statesand also for division agreement with Mercosur into two documents, which – according to the faction – excluded national parliaments from the ratification process. The Left assessed that the agreement may expose European farmers and workers to unfair competition and undermine the EU's climate goals.
There was also criticism of the Commission's lack of action in the face of the social and climate crises. In the opinion of the Left Group, the EC abandoned key elements of the European Green Deal, did not respond to the housing crisis in the European Union and did not take a position on the actions of the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip.
The Left Group also condemns the EC's lack of reaction “to the brutal military attacks of the Israeli government and systematic violations of international and humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip.”
In turn, the right-wing Patriots for Europe accused von der Leyen of ignoring the opposition of the European Parliament, European farmers and national parliaments to agreement with Mercosur. Also according to this faction, the European Commission deliberately divided the agreement into two separate documents in order to bypass national ratification procedures and reduce the role of the European Parliament to formalities.
Ursula von der Leyen had to face a similar conclusion in July this year. It was then submitted by the right-wing faction of European Conservatives and Reformists, but the European Parliament also rejected the attempt to dismiss it.
Source: Business Insider Polska, PAP
