On Monday, July 7, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg regarding ongoing allegations related to the so-called “Pfizergate” controversy, which had prompted a motion of censure from far-right groups. During her remarks, von der Leyen firmly denied the accusations and described them as unfounded and politically motivated, seeking to defend both her integrity and the Commission’s conduct in vaccine procurement. She defended her leadership and vaccine rollout as emblematic of the “Europe of solidarity,” stating that the alleged misconduct belonged to “the oldest playbook of extremists.”
The situation has sparked significant political tension. The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, the second biggest political party in the EP, threatened to abstain from a confidence vote – unless President von der Leyen secured a commitment that the European Social Fund Plus would remain in the EU’s budget plans – signalling a breakdown in the traditional centrist coalition that has underpinned von der Leyen’s mandate. Meanwhile, Renew, the liberal group in the European Parliament, which is an important part of the centrist majority in the hemicycle, signalled that it would vote against the motion, as would the Greens.
The motion of censure – called by far-right Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea and co-signed by about 74 MEPs – occurred on Thursday, 10 July, and was defeated decisively:
- 175 votes in favour
- 360 against
- 18 abstentions
The outcome fell short of the required two-thirds majority. Additionally, it marked the first such procedure since 2014 and the first under von der Leyen’s Commission.
Following the no-confidence vote, several political groups expressed intentions to pursue their own motions shortly, reflecting broader dissatisfaction within the Parliament. The lack of unified parliamentary backing highlights how volatile political alliances in Brussels have become. The S&D changing from an abstention to a vote against also highlights the transactional nature of the institutions.
While Ursula von der Leyen faces a symbolic defeat of the motion of censure, the move spotlights deepening fractures with centrist circles, with long-term tensions within her EPP coalition having the potential to influence future dynamics and her capacity to push forward her political agenda.
