🇪🇺 Von der Leyen Survives No-Confidence Vote Amid Vaccine Deal Transparency Row
Daily Radar | July 11, 2025 | Strasbourg, France
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament, shielding her leadership from immediate collapse but highlighting mounting discontent within the EU’s political structure.
On Thursday, the Strasbourg vote concluded with 360 votes against the motion, 175 in favor, and 18 abstentions—well short of the two-thirds majority needed to oust her.
This marks the first such vote since 2014 and underscores deepening cracks over von der Leyen's leadership style, transparency, and policy direction.
💉 Pfizer Texts, Election Interference & Financial Scrutiny
The no-confidence motion was spearheaded by Romanian lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea, who accused von der Leyen of withholding key text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the EU's multi-billion euro COVID-19 vaccine negotiations in 2021. The allegations ignited criticism over transparency in EU procurement processes.
Piperea also raised broader concerns regarding alleged misuse of funds, inefficiencies within the Commission, and interference in national elections, citing recent controversies in Romania and Germany.
The motion received support from some high-profile figures, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who posted a blunt "Time to go" on X, alongside von der Leyen’s photo.
🎙️ Von der Leyen Defends Her Record
In a pre-vote address, von der Leyen defended her pandemic-era decisions, justifying her contact with Bourla as standard crisis management:
“I was seeking advice from the best epidemiologists and virologists in the world,” she stated.
🟡 Support with Strings Attached
Despite surviving, von der Leyen faces eroding trust even among allies. Critics point to her European People’s Party (EPP) drifting rightward in recent months, particularly on issues like the European Green Deal, prompting backlash.
“Our vote today is not an endorsement,” said Bas Eickhout, co-president of the Greens/EFA group. “The President is losing support.”
Valérie Hayer of Renew Europe echoed similar concerns, warning that support was “not unconditional”, especially if the EPP continues flirting with far-right parties.
The Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the second-largest group in the EU Parliament, had initially threatened to abstain. But after extracting budgetary concessions, they ultimately backed von der Leyen.
Still, Vice President of Parliament Katarina Barley declared this would be von der Leyen’s “absolute last chance”, warning that patience in Brussels is wearing thin.