EU President Ursula von der Leyen is facing two back-to-back confidence votes on Thursday in the European Parliament, which do not threaten her leadership but signal ongoing tensions between members of the bloc and her.
The two motions have allegedly been introduced by the hard left and far right, both of which are dissatisfied with the Commission’s lack of transparency and reject its trade policies.
Although both motions are expected to have no major impact on her future, the developments indicate a growing dissent against her leadership style.
She survived another attempt to unseat her in July earlier this year, though the vote opened the door for allies in von der Leyen’s so-called pro-education camp to air their grievances.
“There has been hardly any progress in this Parliament,” accused the centrist Renew group leader, Valérie Hayer, during a heated debate in the chamber on Monday.
Hayer added, “The pro-EU party that elected you as President is itself in chaos right now.” Meanwhile, Iratxe García Pérez of the Socialists and Democrats delivered a warning to von der Leyen.
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Pérez, in a scathing attack on von der Leyen, said, “There should be a categorical indication made in the EU regarding the friends and enemies.”
Von der Leyen has been under fire for her decisions on Israel and her agreement to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence budgets by 2035, which the majority of EU nations have rejected, citing the immense burden the move would cause.
Hard-left France Unbowed lawmaker Manon Aubry accused her of “inaction” over the “genocide” in Gaza, while the far-right Patriots group chief, Jordan Bardella, criticised Europe’s trade “surrender” to the United States.
The European Parliament has never succeeded in toppling a Commission team.
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