EU Parliament Vote: Where Do Parties Stand on von der Leyen?

Political Groups in the European Parliament Remain Divided Over No-Confidence Vote Against von der Leyen

The European Parliament is currently facing a significant political moment as several groups debate whether to support a no-confidence vote against Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission. While the majority of political groups have indicated they will not back the motion, there are notable criticisms and internal divisions within some of these groups regarding von der Leyen’s leadership.

EPP Fully Supports von der Leyen

The European People's Party (EPP), which is closely associated with von der Leyen, has made it clear that it will fully support her. Manfred Weber, the chair of the EPP, stated during a recent debate that the group will vote unanimously against the motion. He accused far-right MEPs of being influenced by Russian President Vladimir Putin and claimed that the motion is an attempt to undermine European security.

“We will vote unanimously against,” Weber said, adding that the motion is essentially a reaction from those who align with Putin’s interests. He specifically mentioned the German AfD and the Romanian AUR as puppets of the Russian leader, suggesting that the motion is a threat to European stability.

Socialists, Democrats, and Greens Criticize Leadership Style

While the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, and Greens/EFA groups have also decided not to support the motion, their leaders have expressed concerns about von der Leyen’s leadership. They criticized her for engaging with right-wing parties and for centralizing decision-making processes.

Iratxe García Pérez, the leader of the S&D group, described the motion as a “reactionary assault” on the European Union. She also pointed out that von der Leyen has been moving away from the Green Deal by aligning with conservatives to withdraw the Commission’s directive on green claims, which aims to combat greenwashing.

Despite their opposition to the motion, some members of the S&D group might choose to abstain rather than vote against it. According to sources, the group will continue to discuss its position before the final vote.

Renew Europe also rejected the motion, calling it a collection of unfounded allegations. Valérie Hayer, the president of Renew Europe, criticized the Commission for being too centralized and resistant to change.

The Greens/EFA group is expected to reject the motion, with many of its members either voting against it or choosing to abstain. Bas Eickhout, the group’s leader, called the motion a “political show” by the far-right and warned against alliances between the EPP and far-right parties.

Left Wing and Far Right Take Contrasting Positions

The Left group is divided on the issue, with some members, like the Italian Five Stars Movement and Irish MEPs, planning to support the motion. However, other members of the group oppose it, arguing that they should not be used as tools by right-wing extremists.

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group is also split. Some members, including those from the Romanian AUR and Polish PiS, have signed the motion, while others, such as the Brothers of Italy, are not supporting it due to concerns over the potential resignation of their own representatives.

Patriots for Europe (PfE) and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN), two radical right groups, are set to support the motion. Fabrice Leggeri, a French National Rally MEP, criticized the Commission for acting without democratic oversight, while René Aust from Alternative for Germany called for von der Leyen to retire.

A Symbolic Vote with Limited Chances of Success

Although the no-confidence vote has very little chance of passing—requiring at least two-thirds of the votes cast to succeed—it has highlighted the growing distrust among MEPs towards von der Leyen, regardless of their political affiliations.

The so-called "centrist majority" groups, including the EPP, S&D, and Renew Europe, are experiencing internal disagreements over the Commission’s performance. While the EPP fully supports von der Leyen, the S&D and liberals are more critical, signaling that the coalition that supported her a year ago is becoming increasingly unstable.

García Pérez directly addressed Weber during the debate, accusing him of contributing to the motion through his strategy in the Parliament. She emphasized that the EPP’s negotiations with the far right are undermining the integrity of the EU.

As the vote approaches, the outcome will likely reflect the level of dissatisfaction among MEPs. A high number of abstentions could protect the Commissioners but may also damage von der Leyen’s political standing.