Über Liberal-Globalist Ursula von der Leyen is weaker today than she was yesterday.
The German European Commissioner did escape political annihilation by the hands of the MEPs, and with a sizable margin at that.
But a careful look at the numbers reveals tough times ahead for the enfeebled leader in her effort to implement her maximalist Globalist agenda.
Euronews reported:
“The European Commission survived the motion of censure voted on Thursday in the European Parliament, but the Parliament will be no bed of roses for Ursula von der Leyen and her team in the aftermath of the vote.”
360 votes are already fewer than the 370 who approved the Commission back in November 2024.
And no less than 166 MEPs didn’t vote, some were even outside Strasbourg.
“Beyond the Left’s lawmakers, who had announced they would not show up, several MEPs from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, and the Greens/EFA also chose not to take part in the vote. In many cases, this was a way of expressing their discontent with von der Leyen’s Commission without supporting a motion coming from the far right, and despite their group’s official line to vote against.”
A total of 41 European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) MEPs supported the motion against von der Leyen.
And some allies from 2024 are distancing themselves.
“Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni’s party didn’t vote at all, however. Despite not endorsing the motion and having attacked its promoters in a strong speech by Chairman Nicola Procaccini, Brothers of Italy did not dare to take the side of the Commission — possibly to avoid domestic criticism from the League. For von der Leyen, this is a signal that Meloni’s support is not guaranteed. The Italian Prime Minister will likely remain loyal to the Commission, but she must manage internal tensions within a group that is largely positioned outside the pro-EU majority.”
Even among the Greens, who largely voted against the motion of censure, several MEPs, including Spaniards and Italians, decided not to attend the vote.
The rightwing groups for their part are celebrating. Author of the motion, Gheorghe Piperea claimed a ‘symbolic victory’, planning a new vote in the near future.
“’175 votes in favor out of 553 MEPs who voted is a very good proportion’. […] This first motion of the legislature was meant to ‘open Pandora’s box’.”
Next week, the European Commission will present its proposal for the next budget, and that’s where von der Leyen’s weakened state can become a renewed problem.
Read more:
Embattled Ursula von der Leyen Survives Vote of No Confidence in European Parliament, After Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Tells Her It’s ‘Time to Go’
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