Von der Leyen Faces Censure Debate

Monday’s debate on the censure motion against Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed less about her individual conduct and more about the shifting political balances inside the European Parliament.

The motion, formally tabled over concerns ranging from alleged mishandling of vaccine contracts to democratic backsliding, turned into a broader indictment of the Commission’s recent direction, particularly its perceived drift to the right and retreat on key climate and ethical reforms. With the exception of the EPP, all major groups voiced grievances, reflecting growing discomfort within the Parliament’s traditional majority.

Von der Leyen strongly defended her record, notably pushing back against criticism over the Commission’s handling of vaccine contracts, calling allegations of opacity “dishonest.” But her remarks offered few new details, and instead sought to frame the debate as a choice between pro-European democratic cooperation and what she described as divisive, conspiracy-driven narratives.

However, the spotlight quickly shifted to political fault lines. Socialists and liberals, long considered essential to the so-called Ursula majority, used the debate to reassert their role and issue pointed warnings. S&D leader Iratxe García, while confirming her group would not back the censure, made clear the trust underpinning their cooperation is fraying. “Respect the legislative agreement. Respect your word,” she said. “If you betray it again, Social Democracy will lead the resistance.”

Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer echoed the message, calling on von der Leyen to “restore coherence” within her own political base, signaling that continued support cannot be taken for granted.

At the same time, the ECR group revealed its own divisions. Co-chair Nicola Procaccini distanced himself from the motion, calling it a “strategic mistake” and criticizing fellow ECR members, particularly the Polish and Romanian delegations, for promoting it. He warned it could reinforce pro-von der Leyen forces and undermine conservative influence in the Parliament.

The censure motion is unlikely to pass, but the political message was clear: the informal centrist alliance that supported von der Leyen’s first mandate is now under pressure, fragmented by diverging visions of the EU’s future. With the 2024 elections still reshaping institutional dynamics, the debate underscored the difficulty of governing in an increasingly polarized Parliament.