European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen comfortably defeated a no-confidence motion in the European Parliament on Thursday, but the rare challenge highlighted deepening frustrations over her leadership—even among traditional allies.
The motion, brought by far-right lawmakers over her handling of COVID-19 vaccine contracts with Pfizer, was rejected 360 to 175. While the outcome was expected, the debate revealed widening rifts, with centrist and left-leaning groups warning that their support for von der Leyen is not unconditional.
Vaccine Controversy and “Pfizergate”
The censure motion was spearheaded by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who accused von der Leyen of lacking transparency in her text exchanges with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during vaccine negotiations. The Commission’s refusal to disclose the messages—despite ongoing legal battles—has fueled criticism of her centralized and opaque decision-making.
Von der Leyen, who was not present for the vote, dismissed the motion as a “conspiracy theory”-driven stunt by “anti-vaxxers and Putin apologists.” In a post-vote statement, she called for unity amid global instability, declaring, “Long live Europe.”
Growing Discontent Among Allies
While von der Leyen retains the backing of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), her increasing cooperation with far-right factions to roll back environmental policies has alarmed progressive lawmakers.
Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Socialists and Democrats, warned that her group’s support “does not mean we are not critical” of the Commission, criticizing its rightward shift as “a major cause for alarm.” Similarly, centrist Renew leader Valérie Hayer stressed that backing von der Leyen was “not unconditional.”
Broader Political Tensions
Piperea also accused the Commission of meddling in Romania’s recent presidential election, where pro-EU candidate Nicușor Dan narrowly defeated far-right nationalist George Simion. The vote was rerun after Romania’s constitutional court cited evidence of Russian interference and social media manipulation in favor of Simion, who was later disqualified.
The motion found unlikely allies, including parts of the far-right Identity and Democracy group—home to Hungary’s Viktor Orbán—but failed to gain full support even within Piperea’s own European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s faction abstained.
What’s Next?
Though von der Leyen remains secure for now, the vote underscores mounting discontent over her leadership style and policy direction. With European elections approaching, the Commission chief faces pressure to address transparency concerns and rebuild trust among wavering allies—or risk a more serious challenge down the line.