Politico: Von der Leyen to face endless no-confidence votes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen faces fresh political turbulence as the European Parliament prepares for a second set of no-confidence votes in three months. While she is expected to survive the challenge this week, discontent over her leadership continues to grow across party lines.

When von der Leyen appears before Parliament on the evening of October 6 to defend her record, she does so knowing that further tests lie ahead — from trade deals and the bloc’s upcoming seven-year budget to questions over transparency and global strategy, Politico writes.

“We will judge her against her implementation efforts but that won’t be in October,” said René Repasi, head of the German delegation of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). She “has made clear that she has understood where Europe’s problems lie. Now she must implement her proposals.”

With European Council President António Costa overshadowed on the world stage and the leaders of France and Germany struggling to assert themselves, von der Leyen’s prominence — and vulnerability — have both increased. Once consensual EU politics now appear fractious, with even members of her own European People’s Party (EPP) expressing frustration.

The S&D, Renew, the Greens, and parts of the EPP have all criticized von der Leyen’s performance.

“We don’t exclude” playing the censure card “if we see the need,” a spokesperson for S&D chair Iratxe García said.

This week’s no-confidence motions were tabled by far-right and far-left groups, echoing a pattern established by the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists. With only 72 signatures out of 720 MEPs needed to trigger a motion, such challenges could become routine.

While The Left says it does not plan to repeatedly table motions, right-wing lawmakers remain noncommittal. But even beyond formal votes, von der Leyen faces major political tests.

Contentious issues such as EU trade deals with the U.S. and Latin America and the Commission’s “simplification” package to cut red tape have divided her coalition.

“There are many other votes coming that will test her leadership,” said an EPP MEP, citing “the U.S. trade deal, which is directly associated with her after Scotland [where she signed it at Trump’s Turnberry golf course], the budget, which everyone in Parliament seems to dislike, and the Mercosur [Latin America trade] deal.”

Some officials have floated the idea of raising the threshold for launching no-confidence votes.

“It would be great if they raised the threshold and bring the dignity back for the motion,” said one Commission official. But, they added, “there had been no talks with the Parliament, however, and it remained ‘a Parliament prerogative.’”

“There is a clear frustration in Parliament toward this Commission, to von der Leyen namely,” the official said. “You never know when the political tides will change.”

By Sabina Mammadli