European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been warned she faces a fresh revolt unless she changes course—despite comfortably surviving a vote of no confidence in Strasbourg on Thursday. MEPs rejected the censure motion by 360 votes to 175, with 18 abstentions.
The challenge, brought by hard-right lawmakers, accused Ms von der Leyen of misusing EU funds, interfering in national elections, and privately texting Pfizer’s CEO during the pandemic. Though absent from the chamber, she responded on social media, saying: “As external forces seek to destabilise and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe.” But behind the scenes, frustrations boiled over, and Ms von der Leyen’s next challenge could come from the other end of the political spectrum.
After the result, Iratxe Garcia Perez, leader of the centre-left Socialists and Democrats—Parliament’s second-largest group—warned her: “If you betray us again, be clear that social democracy will lead the resistance against your drift.”
The remark reflects mounting concern over Ms von der Leyen’s perceived tilt toward hard-right alliances, particularly by her own European People’s Party (EPP), the largest bloc in Parliament.
Critics say the EPP has repeatedly worked with far-right groups to bypass pro-European coalitions when convenient—most recently to block the creation of an EU ethics body and push through commissioner hearings.
Valerie Hayer, leader of the liberal Renew group, backed that criticism, writing on social media that Ms von der Leyen must “take control of her political family to put an end to alliances with the far right”.
The no confidence motion may have been tabled by fringe nationalists—but it triggered a broader confrontation over the direction of the EU. Even those who opposed the motion made clear that their patience is wearing thin.
Greens group President Terry Reintke said: “We won’t vote with the far-right and we do not support this motion. This vote was little more than a far-right PR stunt from Putin-loving populists.”
But she added: “We are ready to build pro-European majorities, but we will not be played by the EPP in their desperate deregulation agenda.”
The motion was the first censure attempt in more than a decade, underscoring how far political tensions have escalated in Brussels since the Parliament shifted sharply to the right in last year’s EU elections.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a frequent critic of Ms von der Leyen, had urged MEPs to back the motion. Calling it “the moment of truth,” he said: “Madam President, the essence of leadership is responsibility. Time to go!”
His post underscored the deeper clash between Ms von der Leyen’s Commission and nationalist governments. Brussels has frozen billions in EU funds earmarked for Hungary over democratic backsliding under Mr Orbán’s rule.
While Ms von der Leyen survived the vote, her future support in Parliament now depends on whether she can reassure former allies.
As Ms Pérez made clear, the survival of her presidency may hinge on not crossing them again.
