European Lawmakers File Lawsuit Against Commission President von der Leyen for Alleged Unfounded Accusations of Russian Financial Backing
Romanian MEP Files Legal Action Against Ursula von der Leyen for Alleged Defamation
In a significant development within the European Union, Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea has filed a legal action against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for alleged defamation.
The lawsuit, filed under Article 340 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), stems from a motion of no-confidence against von der Leyen, triggered by the controversial deal she made with Pfizer during the pandemic. However, the much-anticipated vote of no-confidence failed to garner enough support.
Piperea's motion was based on documented and judicially confirmed failures by the EC to uphold transparency and accountability in its dealings with pharmaceutical companies. He contends that the EC's statements, which he alleges violated fundamental principles of democratic debate, misinformed EU citizens about the nature and legitimacy of his parliamentary activity.
Von der Leyen, in response, called Piperea's no-confidence motion a "crude attempt to drive a wedge between our institutions" and alleged that it was "supported by the puppet masters in Russia and elsewhere." Piperea argues that von der Leyen personally attacked him in her plenary speech instead of addressing the substance of the accusations.
The lawsuit seeks an official public apology from the European Commission and its President, moral damages, and full reimbursement of legal costs. A significant number of the co-signatories of the June 2025 motion of censure have formally joined the lawsuit as co-litigants, transforming the case into a collective legal action.
The European General Court has criticized von der Leyen for refusing to disclose text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. It confirmed accusations of maladministration and document concealment concerning contracts worth a reported €35 billion.
This reflects growing concern among members of the European Parliament over what they view as an abuse of institutional power and an attempt to stigmatize legitimate parliamentary opposition through public defamation.
On July 23, Piperea gave von der Leyen an ultimatum of seven days to prove her claims or retract them and apologize. If successful, this legal action could set a precedent in the debate over institutional accountability and political discourse within the European Union.
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