Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote amid COVID-19 vaccine corruption claims

The European Parliament session in Strasbourg begins today with discussions on a vote of no confidence against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, triggered by allegations of corruption related to COVID-19 vaccine procurement.

Von der Leyen and the entire European Commission will be present in person during the session, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The motion was initiated by Romanian MEP George Piperea. The proposal required the support of at least one-tenth of the 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), or 72 votes, and ultimately gained backing from 74 MEPs. Among the supporters, 31 belong to the far-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group. Piperea accuses von der Leyen and the Commission of lack of transparency and mismanagement during the pandemic.

However, the likelihood of the no-confidence vote succeeding is very low. The European People’s Party (EPP), to which von der Leyen belongs, has already pledged its support, along with the liberals and socialists. Together, these groups represent more than two-thirds of the Parliament, virtually ensuring the motion’s defeat.

By Khagan Isayev