No-confidence vote fails, support for von der Leyen?
The motion of no-confidence against EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, tabled by members of far-right parties, has failed. Only 175 MEPs voted in favour of the initiative – while more than twice that number voted against. Two-thirds of those present would have had to support the motion for it to pass. Europe's media draw varying conclusions.
Allegations comparatively insignificant
The people who called for the no-confidence vote didn't bring up the important issues, says Večer:
“Ursula von der Leyen can be accused of many things: poor management, the tough situation for farmers, not being able to deal with Trump, militarism, backing Israel, demagoguery when it comes to Ukraine. ... But the populists have simply seized on the most convenient issue. Why attack her on substance when it's easier to blame her for Covid? Of course things are unclear there too, especially with regard to the Pfizergate scandal, and the Commission president has a duty to explain them. But if they really want to bring her down, they will have to come up with better reasons.”
Commission president emerges stronger
The vote of no confidence worked in von der Leyen's favour, writes Kurier:
“The whole hullabaloo died down rapidly. Not only did the vote of no confidence in Ursula von der Leyen fail but it enabled the EU Commission president to consolidate her power. Which is precisely what she has been working on since her re-election. Not only does she pull all the political strings in the EU Commission, her EPP, as the strongest group in the EU Parliament, is also more influential than ever before.”
Uncertain future
Lidové noviny sees little cause for relief:
“In the wake of this vote, the European Commission's future policy is likely to be more contradictory than ever, both in terms of the budget and of environmental protection and efforts to end greenhouse gas emissions. The attempt to please everyone will lead to unexpected changes that could provoke further resistance. At the same time, it's not possible to swing the pendulum to one side and create a large left-wing or right-wing majority in the European Parliament. The elections turned out the way they did. Hence the future of the European Commission remains uncertain.”
Not democracy at its finest
The situation is deplorable, the taz laments:
“The problem, i.e. Ursula von der Leyen, is still there. The CDU politician, who leads the EU Commission as high-handedly as a queen, has not fulfilled a single of her election promises. Peace in Ukraine, green growth, a fair deal with Donald Trump? Not a chance. But instead of finally taking appropriate steps and confronting this EU Commission that is spinning out of control and drifting ever further to the right, the left-of-centre parties have allowed themselves to be duped yet again. ... The parliament has passed up huge opportunity to earn respect. This was not European democracy at its finest; it was just more evidence of how toothless it is.”
Fratelli d'Italia walking a tightrope
La Repubblica comments on the abstention of Italy's ruling party, a member of the ECR group that proposed the motion:
“Ursula von der Leyen has been weakened, as have the conservative-socialist-liberal majority that has supported her until now. The EPP-ECR axis has also suffered a serious blow, as the ECR is vertically divided and Fratelli d'Italia did not vote against the motion of no confidence as announced, but felt obliged to save its bacon by abstaining. In the end the motion against the Commission president was overturned by 360 'no' votes to 175 in favour, with 18 abstentions. But it left a trail of dead and wounded in the Strasbourg plenary hall.”