After a little more than half a year since the new mandate started, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen exceeds a fire test used from the ultra -right-wing bench of the Eurocamara. the German has exceeded Thursday the motion of censure that had presented the three extreme right groups by the scandal of the Pfizergate. A process that has surpassed thanks to the support of the traditional coalition.
The Plenary of the European Parliament has rejected the motion of censure driven by ultra-right-wing groups, which was resolved with the support of 175 eurodiputados, The broad rejection of 360 Eurodiputados mainly configured by the great coalition of popular, socialists and renew, and with 18 abstentions.
It was the Romanian ultra-nationalist eurodiput, Gheorghe Pipperite the promoter of the initiative that, initially, achieved the support of 80 MEPs of the parties of the same political spectrum in the European Parliament. According to the community regulations, a minimum of 72 MEPs to be able to present a motion of censure against the Community Executive.
the motion of censure has not come forward, evidencing that it did not have the support of two thirds of the Eurocamara to get ahead and also the discrepancies within the three ultra-right groups of the European Parliament.The German has been supported by the traditional coalition of the Popular Party, Social Democratic and the liberals of Renew, who have rejected the initiative. The president of the Community Executive criticized that this attempt was a “strategy extracted from the oldest extremist manual: polarizes society and erodes confidence in democracy.”
Also the Greens and part of the Giorgia Meloni party have rejected the initiative promoted by the extreme right. But this support for Von der Leyen was not so clear.Said the socialist formation that could refrain in the vote in an act of protest for the pacts that the popular had sealed during this legislature with the ultras forces. Although it would have been, the initiative would not have come forward.
But beyond the final result, which confirms the vote this Thursday is a first notice to the German executive. Reflects the political instability of the European parliamentary arch and also The big cracks that open when dealing with legislative files or try to move forward a new path for the EU.With their hesitation, the Socialists expressed their disagreement with the political practices undertaken in recent months by Von der Leyen. They made clear that their support is not unconditional. A juncture that complicates things for the German at a time when the EU seems to have escaped to the right.The ultra-right-handed Pipper Pipeign openly criticized the head of the Community Executive for the messages that was sentVon der Leyen supera la moción de censura gracias al respaldo de la gran coalición.
Von der Leyen Survives Vote of No Confidence with Support from Grand Coalition
Brussels – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, successfully navigated a vote of no confidence on July 25th, securing the necessary support primarily from the major coalition parties within the European Parliament. The motion, initiated by far-right and far-left groups, centered around criticisms of the Commission’s handling of rule-of-law concerns, especially regarding hungary and the disbursement of EU funds.
The vote concluded with 333 votes in favor of maintaining confidence in von der Leyen, while 169 voted against, and 40 abstained. This outcome underscores the continued, albeit sometimes fragile, unity within the European Parliament’s center-right European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe groups – the core of the “grand coalition” that propelled von der Leyen into office in 2019.
The primary catalyst for the no-confidence motion was the Commission’s decision to release billions of euros in frozen funds to Hungary in December 2023. Critics argued that this move was premature, given ongoing concerns about democratic backsliding and corruption within the Hungarian government led by Viktor Orbán. They contended that the Commission had not adequately ensured Hungary met the pre-conditions related to judicial independence and academic freedom before releasing the funds.
However, the Commission defended its decision, stating that Hungary had implemented sufficient reforms to address the initial concerns that triggered the fund freeze. Commission officials emphasized that the release was contingent on continued adherence to these reforms and that further funds could be suspended if Hungary were to deviate from its commitments.This position was bolstered by legal opinions suggesting the Commission had acted within its rights.
The outcome of the vote reflects a broader political dynamic within the EU.While concerns about rule of law remain significant – with organizations like freedom House consistently highlighting democratic erosion in several member states – there is also a recognition of the need for pragmatism and maintaining a functioning relationship with all member states, even those with problematic records. The war in Ukraine has further underscored the importance of EU unity and the potential risks of alienating member states.
Recent data from the European Parliament shows a growing fragmentation of political groups, with a rise in support for nationalist and populist parties. This trend presents a continuing challenge to the stability of the grand coalition and could lead to more frequent attempts to challenge the Commission’s authority. For example, projections for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June 2024 suggest a potential increase in seats for far-right parties, potentially shifting the balance of power.
Despite surviving the vote, von der Leyen faces ongoing scrutiny and a challenging political landscape as she seeks to navigate the remaining years of her mandate. Key priorities for the Commission include implementing the European Green Deal, bolstering the EU’s defence capabilities, and managing the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Maintaining the support of the grand coalition will be crucial for achieving these objectives, but the increasing political polarization within the EU suggests this will be an increasingly challenging task.