Focus on the BIG picture.
Thursday, Jul 17, 2025

Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote

Dutch commentator’s speech questioning Commission’s transparency coincides with von der Leyen’s parliamentary backing. The motion, brought forth by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, highlighted concerns over the Commission's transparency, including undisclosed corrupted communications with Pfizer and the huge bribe deals during the vaccine mega business.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 10 July 2025 weathered a no‑confidence vote in the European Parliament, with 360 MEPs opposing the motion, 175 in favour and 18 abstaining.

The vote fell short of the two‑thirds majority required to remove her from office .

The motion, tabled by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea and supported by members across the political spectrum, cited several grievances.

These included the Commission’s refusal to disclose private text messages exchanged with Pfizer’s CEO during COVID‑19 vaccine negotiations, alleged opacity in allocating recovery funds, and accusations of interference in national elections .

Von der Leyen was not present at the vote, having attended a separate conference in Rome.

She later described the motion as an attempt by “illiberal forces” to destabilise European institutions and defended her record, particularly highlighting the EU’s equitable vaccine distribution during the pandemic .

Although the motion was expected to fail, it exposed fault lines within traditionally supportive centrist and centre‑left groups.

Some Socialists and Greens raised concerns about a perceived rightward shift in Commission policies, including economic and environmental initiatives.

These factions ultimately voted against the motion, citing the geopolitical importance of maintaining the current Commission amid ongoing challenges such as global trade tensions and the war in Ukraine .

The no‑confidence vote marked the first such challenge since 2014, when Jean‑Claude Juncker faced a similar motion and survived .

Coinciding with the confidence debate, a recent speech by Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek has attracted widespread attention.

In her address at a Hungary‑based conference, she questioned the democratic legitimacy of the Commission’s decision‑making.

She asserted that von der Leyen was not directly elected by citizens and criticised policies including the Green Deal, migration frameworks, EU defence initiatives aimed at supporting Ukraine, and a purported undisclosed €35 billion pharmaceutical agreement with Pfizer .

In the speech, Vlaardingerbroek emphasised notions such as an "illusion of democracy" and the concentration of power in unelected institutions.

She expressed concerns about economic consequences, national sovereignty, and transparency in public procurement .

Both the parliamentary vote and the resurfacing of Vlaardingerbroek’s speech highlight an intensifying public focus on the transparency and democratic accountability of EU institutions.

The episode has reignited debate among lawmakers and citizens regarding the balance between supranational governance and direct electoral legitimacy within the bloc.


The speech is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vseM6MMk9qo


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
US-China Chip War Intensifies Over Export Curbs
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Donald Trump Jr. Remains Supportive of Elon Musk Post-Feud
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
FAA Says It’s Not Considering Starlink for Aviation Contracts
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
House GOP Blocks Second Democratic Bid to Release Epstein Documents
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Provocative Times Square Billboard Urges New Yorkers to ‘Move to Ohio’ Over Mamdani
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Lawmakers Report Overcrowded Conditions at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Facility
Taiwan’s Distant‑Water Fishing Industry Under Scrutiny for Migrant Worker Abuse
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
GAO Report Identifies Major Failures by Secret Service Ahead of Trump Rally Shooting
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
×