“Handbook of extremists”
The Leyen defends itself against the motion of no confidence
Updated on July 8th, 2025 – 07:48 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
On Thursday, Leyen has to face a vote of no confidence in the EU Parliament. For the first time she comments on the allegations. But criticism not only comes from the right wing.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for the first time has commented on the notification of no confidence in the EU Parliament. The initiators’ allegations “came directly from the oldest manual of the extremists,” said von der Leyen on Monday at the beginning of the parliamentary debate in Strasbourg. They wanted to “polarize society”, “undermine confidence in democracy with false claims on electoral manipulations” and “rewritten the story,” she criticized.
The right -wing radical Romanian MP Gheroghe Piperea from the faction of the European Conservatives and Reformers (EKR) had launched the suspicion of Von der Leyen. The coordination in the Strasbourg plenum is scheduled for Thursday morning.
Among other things, the Leyen’s approach in Corona pandamy is criticized. Even the European Court of Justice (ECJ) had complained that the head of the commission held the content of text messages with Pfizer boss Albert Bourla.
A two -thirds majority would be necessary for a success of the suspension application. A majority is unlikely. Nevertheless, there is displeasure in parliament about the Leyens style. The Greens and her group leader Terry Reintke criticize the turning back of climate measures already adopted in the course of the Green Deal.
The SPD announced abstention. She sees the course of von der Leyen and the Christian Democratic faction leader Manfred Weber, and increasingly in parliament on majorities with right -wing conservatives.
René Repasi explained to the SPD’s MEPs in the NTV interview: “The European Commission is pursuing an agenda that massively regrows many achievements. And this commission has opened up to political cooperation with right-wing outside fractions. This is something that is difficult for us Social Democrats.”
If the application is accepted, contrary to all expectations, not only from the Leyen, but the entire commission.
