European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived the vote of confidence presented by the far-right ion of the European Parliament.
The results were not surprising, but the fact that it was born at all was not a positive signal for von der Reyen, who began his second term as the committee chief just a year ago.
This type of trust vote is rare, and the last vote surfaced over a decade ago against Jean Claude Junker.
Two-thirds of the European Parliament (MEPS) or all 720 members of the 480 would have had to support the motion for it to pass.
Instead, only 175 voted in favor. 360 voted against it, with 18 people abstaining. The remaining MEPs were not voted.
The vote was launched by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea. He accused him of lack of transparency in the text messages he sent to Pfizer’s head during negotiations to secure a Covid-19 vaccine.
The text of the motion stated that von der Leyen’s committee could no longer be trusted to “support the principles of transparency, accountability and good governance essential to democratic coalition.”
During a heated debate on Monday, von der Leyen denounced her accuser as a “conspiracy theorist.”
Returning to what Piperea and what she called “his plot world and the suspicion of sinister plot,” she said he and his cohort were “extremists”, “anti-vaxers”, and “putin apologies.”
She also said that the accusations against her over the so-called pfizergate were “simply lies.”
Piperea was supported by people such as Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban.
However, his own European conservatives and reformist (ECR) groups split.
A significant portion of the ECR is made up of the Italian Brothers (FDI), Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni. FDI has developed a good relationship with von der Reyen, and its MEP voted against the motion.
Ultimately, the votes came mainly from European Patriots (PFEs) and European Sovereign Countries (ENS).
Von Der Leyen survived the vote thanks to her support from her own Central Right European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Liberal Renews, Greens and Left Groups.
However, on the day leading up to the vote, several groups warned their support with complaints about von der Reyen’s leadership.
Last year, her central EPP has been working more and more with the far-right far right to pass revisions and resolutions on issues such as transition and the environment.
Valerie Heyer of Centist Rennis Europe repeatedly warned von der Leyen that her group’s support was “not guaranteed,” urging the committee chief to “regain control of Ep” and end the “far right alliance.”
Prior to the vote for S&D leader Iratxe García, he said it was “irresponsible” to dismantle the committee during a geopolitical crisis.
“Our vote doesn’t mean we are not critical of the European Commission,” Garcia said, citing “recent changes to the far-right pledge by Von del Reyen.”
Earlier this week there was a proposal that S&D might refrain from voting, but it reportedly ends up excluding social programs cuts in the upcoming budget, supporting Von Der Leyen.
When the vote for her leader was held, von der Leyen was making a speech at the Ukrainian Restoration Conference in Rome.
However, shortly after the move was rejected, she posted to X. “When external forces become unstable and we try to divide, it is our duty to respond in line with our values.”
“Thank you, and longevity Europe,” she added.
