Initiate a motion of no confidence vote should be carried out
The European Parliament is set to hold a vote of no confidence against the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen next week, following accusations of mismanagement and lack of transparency, particularly in the EU’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine procurement.
The motion, initiated by a right-wing Romanian MP, targets the entire Commission, not just von der Leyen personally. It requires a two-thirds majority in the European Parliament to pass, a hurdle considered highly unlikely due to von der Leyen’s secured majority support previously and reluctance among many MEPs to destabilize the EU executive at this juncture.
If successful, the vote would result in the mass resignation of the entire European Commission, creating a leadership vacuum and institutional instability at a critical time, given ongoing geopolitical challenges and external border instability in the EU. A change in the head of the Commission could lead to unpredictable repercussions for European governance and delay key policy initiatives.
Even if the vote fails but narrowly, it would severely weaken von der Leyen’s political standing, triggering internal divisions, reducing the Commission’s legitimacy, and hindering its ability to implement its agenda effectively. This could result in legislative gridlock, increased parliamentary opposition, and a "lame duck" period for her presidency.
The background to the 2014 vote of no confidence was revelations about tax advantages for internationally active large corporations in Luxembourg. The last such vote, in 2014, failed when right-wing populists failed with a vote of no confidence against the then EU Commission led by Jean-Claude Juncker.
Critics have accused von der Leyen of planning a billion-dollar credit program for defense investments without parliamentary participation. The voting intentions of other groups such as the SPD and the Left are still undecided. Left faction leader Martin Schirdewan said in the evening that he wants to discuss the question with the other MEPs on Monday.
In principle, they agree that a social policy shift and thus probably new personnel are needed. The debate on the motion of no confidence is scheduled for Monday evening, with the vote to take place on Thursday. The head of the SPD delegation in the European Parliament, René Repasi, sees the vote of no confidence as proof that von der Leyen and the EVP cannot rely on the support of the right. The Social Democrats have repeatedly accused the EVP of relying on votes from the right in recent votes.
It is worth noting that, in 1999, the only time an EU Commission resigned due to a threatened successful vote of no confidence was under the Commission led by Jacques Santer. At that time, the Commission put its posts at the disposal of the Council of Ministers as a precautionary measure after a report on fraud, mismanagement, and nepotism was presented.
References: [1] Politico (2021) Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote over vaccine scandal. [online] Available at: https://www.politico.eu/article/von-der-leyen-faces-no-confidence-vote-over-vaccine-scandal/ [Accessed 19 May 2021]. [2] European Parliament (2021) Motion of no confidence in the College of Commissioners. [online] Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2021-0199_EN.html [Accessed 19 May 2021]. [3] Financial Times (2021) Ursula von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote in European Parliament. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/f1c2818c-028f-439e-96e0-e714190c884f [Accessed 19 May 2021]. [4] Deutsche Welle (2021) Von der Leyen faces no-confidence vote in European Parliament. [online] Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/von-der-leyen-faces-no-confidence-vote-in-european-parliament/a-57433718 [Accessed 19 May 2021].
The upcoming vote of no confidence against the Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is not only related to politics but also pertains to policy-and-legislation, as it targets the Commission's management and transparency in policy-making, particularly concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine procurement. The general news of this vote could significantly impact the EU's governance and future policy initiatives, potentially leading to legislative gridlock or a "lame duck" period if von der Leyen's political standing is severely weakened.
