The European Parliament will hold debates and vote on two motions of no confidence in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during its plenary session on 6–9 October. This is stated in an internal letter from EP President Roberta Metsola, which was seen by Politico.
On the night of 10 September, two separate draft motions of no confidence were submitted to Parliament. They were brought before parliament by leftwing party The Left and the far-right Patriots for Europe political group. The action came hours after von der Leyen delivered her keynote speech on the state of the Union in Strasbourg. The situation highlights the political fragmentation in the EU: the current votes of no confidence are the second in just two months after the previous vote of confidence, which the EC president survived at the time.
Reasons for Discontent
Patriots for Europe are critical of von der Leyen for a lack of responsibility and transparency, and strongly condemn the EU’s trade agreements with Mercosur and the USA.
The Left also disapprove of the European Commission’s trade policy but for them it is mainly because they feel Brussels has done nothing to condemn Israel’s war in Gaza.
The situation of two no-confidence votes being introduced simultaneously is unprecedented. This has sparked debate about how the debate and voting procedure will be organised.
According to European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Kolar, the final decision on the agenda will be made on 1 October at a meeting of political group leaders. The most likely scenario is a joint debate on Monday, 6 October, and two separate votes on Thursday, 9 October.
