Two new motions of no confidence against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are causing a stir. The motions, tabled by the right-wing Patriotic Europe faction (PfE) and the Left faction, accuse the powerful EU chief of serious misconduct. But what is really behind them?

Criticism of climate policy, migration, and Trump deal

The accusations are fierce: Von der Leyen’s climate policy is a disaster, her migration policy chaotic and opaque. Martin Schirdewan, leader of the Left Party faction, is particularly harsh: “The Commission has concluded a devastating customs agreement with Trump. This is an attack on European industry and jeopardizes thousands of jobs!” Schirdewan goes on to say that the Commission has also ignored the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip for too long, as reported by n-tv.

The Patriots faction, in turn, sharply criticizes von der Leyen’s climate policy and accuses her of lack of transparency and censorship. According to oe24, these accusations could further fuel the debate in parliament.

Another vote of no confidence?

This is not the first time von der Leyen has had to face such an attack. In July, she survived a vote of no confidence – the first since 2014. At that time, she and her team were accused of undermining trust in the EU through illegal actions. However, with 360 votes against the motion, she easily secured the two-thirds majority required to defeat it, as reported by oe24.

Lessentiel.lu also points out that the criticism of von der Leyen is not new. The Left Party accuses her of jeopardizing jobs in Europe and neglecting the interests of citizens through her policies.

What happens now?

The parliamentary administration is currently examining whether the motions have sufficient support. If this is the case, a heated debate and vote could take place as early as October. According to n-tv, this would be a decisive moment for the EU chief, who would have to prove herself once again.

A political power game?

Critics suspect that there is a political calculation behind the motions. The Patriots faction and the Left could hardly be more different, but they find common ground in their rejection of von der Leyen’s policies. It remains to be seen whether the accusations have substance or are merely an attempt to weaken the EU chief. As oe24 points out, the vote in October could trigger a political earthquake.

Credits: APA