European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing an unprecedented situation: three motions of censure within barely three months. What some are already calling a “trio of aces” against the EU executive reveals both the erosion of her leadership and the political instability currently shaking Brussels.
The first came in July, pushed by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea (ECR). It failed, gathering only 175 votes in favor—far from the required two-thirds majority. Now two new initiatives are taking shape simultaneously from opposite ends of the political spectrum: The Left and Patriots for Europe. Both groups have collected the necessary signatures and will register their motions.
The Left group, with 46 MEPs, has repeatedly denounced what it considers a double betrayal by the Commission. On the one hand, the trade agreement signed with the United States in July, which they call “asymmetrical, non-reciprocal, and a threat to farmers, the environment, and public health.” On the other hand, Brussels’ response to the crisis in Gaza, which they describe as weak and insufficient, “In the face of genocide, there can be no half measures,” said co-president Manon Aubry.
These criticisms are joined by their rejection of Mercosur and the perception that the Commission has abandoned the social promises of the so-called Green Deal. To support their motion, The Left has obtained backing from some Greens, especially from the Italian delegation, but still needs to gather further support from other groups to turn the gesture into a serious challenge.
In parallel, Patriots for Europe (PfE)—the group bringing together parties such as Rassemblement National, Fidesz, Lega, and VOX—will register their no-confidence motion today. Unlike The Left, they already have over 80 MEP signatories, surpassing the minimum threshold of 72 required by Parliament rules.
The text, released in full by the group and obtained by this newspaper, lays out a frontal indictment against the Commission President: “erratic” green policies that undermine European competitiveness; failure to stop illegal immigration; transparency scandals; a threat to freedom of expression through “covert censorship”; and the signing of trade agreements—Mercosur and the U.S. framework—“without a mandate from the Council and against the will of the Member States.”
“Europe is weaker today than ever before due to the persistent failure of the Commission President to tackle the most pressing challenges,” the motion states. It concludes by formally censuring the executive and accusing it of acting beyond its legal competencies.
Three motions, one likely outcome
The string of three no-confidence motions in such a short time highlights the growing wear on Von der Leyen across the board.
Yet the chances of any motion succeeding remain minimal. A no-confidence motion requires a two-thirds majority in plenary, which implies a broad consensus across political families that today seem irreconcilable. Socialists, Liberals, and the European People’s Party have all reiterated that they will not support what they view as “political maneuvers.”
Still, the symbolism is evident. Von der Leyen begins the political season under crossfire, with her authority under question and the uncomfortable image of being the Commission President who has faced the most no-confidence motions in the shortest time.
