Commission President struggles to provide reasons to leave her in office
In a European Parliament debate this afternoon, the scene was set today for the Motion of Censure vote against President Ursula von der Leyen and her Commissioners. The vote put forward by The Left will take place this Thursday (9 October) and could see von der Leyen pack her bags over her failure to act against genocide in Gaza, her support for the EU-Mercosur trade deal and her appeasement of Trump which resulted in a 15% tariff on all EU exports to the US.
Speaking in the European Parliament today, Co-Chair of The Left Manon Aubry (La France Insoumise, France) said: “Across Europe, people are struggling to pay their bills, people are losing their jobs, while public services collapse under the yoke of budgetary austerity. The Commission can find money for tanks, but not for hospitals. 60% of Europeans want to see President von der Leyen censured. She must go. This motion of censure is a moment for political clarification. Between those who want to continue the harmful policies of the Commission in the service of a few and those who are fighting the fight against it.”
Co-Chair of The Left Martin Schirdewan (Die Linke, Germany) added: “Under the leadership of von der Leyen, European interests have been relegated to second place in global politics. The time has come for this European Commission to leave office. They are politically bankrupt and have proven themselves unable to tackle any of the issues facing Europe; economic, social or environmental. We have seen abundant proof of this which is why all MEPs should vote in favour of this motion of censure.”
The debate and vote follows the Commission President’s State of the European Union address during the previous plenary session. Von der Leyen offered weak ‘partial measures’ against Israel while also pushing for a new initiative to enable the mass deportation of refugees from Europe. Her Commission meanwhile continues to slash funding to European farmers and public services while calling it ‘competitiveness’. In her speech today to defend herself from the motion of censure, she offered little of substance.
The question remains whether the crumbs offered in President von der Leyen’s legislative agenda will be enough to keep other political groups on board for the foreseeable future.
