European Parliament fails to reflect public sentiment in Motion of Censure vote
In a Motion of Censure vote put forward by The Left group, the European Parliament today voted to defend President Ursula von der Leyen, despite her Commission’s deep unpopularity across the Union.
The European Parliament voted 133 in favour of censuring the European Commission, with 383 voting against and 78 abstaining. It was the third no confidence vote the Commission has faced in recent months, as President von der Leyen comes under fire for her failure to act against the genocide in Gaza, for her handling of international diplomacy, and for forcing through undemocratic deals such as the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
Co-Chair of The Left Manon Aubry (La France Insoumise, France) said: “We regret that most members of the Socialist and Green groups did not support our Motion of Censure, even though the European Commission is currently dismantling or delaying key legislation for human rights and the climate, such as the Corporate Due Diligence Directive. Nevertheless, this motion of censure sends a strong message to the von der Leyen Commission: we will not allow democracy to be trampled on, our sovereignty to be surrendered, or international law to be violated.”
Co-Chair of The Left Martin Schirdewan (Die Linke, Germany) said: “Today’s vote reveals the deepening rift between the people of the EU and the European Commission in Brussels. While Europeans are taking to the streets across the continent in unprecedented numbers to protest the EU Commission’s incapability to act – whether over rising living costs, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, or the rise of the far right – the European Commission under President von der Leyen remains paralyzed by fear. She is supported by the Greens and the Social Democrats, who seem more concerned with keeping their positions than with their campaign promises or the policies they otherwise claim to stand for. Our result shows: the pressure on Ursula von der Leyen and her Commission is mounting, and The Left will continue to intensify this pressure both within the European Parliament and on the streets of Europe.”
Despite their support in the vote today, all is not well in the ‘Von der Leyen Coalition’. In a debate earlier this week the political groups supporting Ursula von der Leyen voiced their displeasure at her new deregulation agenda which has seen the erosion of the European Green Deal in favour of the defence industry and lobby groups.
As the only democratic opposition in the European Parliament to President von der Leyen’s agenda, The Left will continue to hold her and the College of Commissioners to account. The clock is ticking for von der Leyen, and The Left is prepared to work with other political groups in the coming months to set the timer.
