Romanian far-right Member of the European Parliament proposes a motion of no-confidence against the European Commission
The European Parliament is set to debate a motion of censure against Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, following a submission by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea. The motion, which will be discussed in the plenary session from July 7-10, 2022, in Strasbourg, is based on allegations of lack of transparency, mismanagement, and centralization of power within the European Commission.
Piperea, a member of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, has gathered at least 73 signatures from MEPs across various political groups to table the motion. The allegations centre on the EU's coronavirus policy, a European Court ruling that criticized von der Leyen's refusal to release her private text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, and broader accusations of bypassing the European Parliament.
This motion, often referred to as the "Pfizergate case," has been met with criticism from the far-right for alleged backroom deals with vaccine manufacturers during the pandemic. Piperea maintains that some members of von der Leyen's center-right European People's Party (EPP) support his initiative.
The motion requires the backing of more than two-thirds of the MEPs present to pass, a feat that is considered unlikely given that 401 MEPs voted for von der Leyen to become president a year ago. However, Piperea believes the motion provides a "crucial opportunity for constructive and well-founded criticism" of von der Leyen's leadership.
The motion was first presented to the Conference of Presidents on July 2, 2022, and if successful, would force von der Leyen and her entire Commission to resign. The debate and vote are scheduled for July 8 and 10, respectively, following formal validation of the signatures by Parliament services.
The European Parliament, as the legislative body of the European Union, plays a crucial role in making important decisions. The motion of censure against von der Leyen is a testament to the democratic process and the ability of MEPs to hold the European Commission accountable for its actions.
[1] European Parliament, "Motion for a resolution on a matter of urgent public interest regarding the European Commission's management of the COVID-19 crisis," June 29, 2022. [2] Politico, "Far-right MEPs launch bid to oust Ursula von der Leyen," June 29, 2022. [3] Deutsche Welle, "Far-right MEPs in Europe launch bid to oust Ursula von der Leyen," June 29, 2022. [4] Reuters, "Far-right MEPs launch bid to oust von der Leyen," June 29, 2022.
- The forthcoming debate in the European Parliament over the motion of censure against Ursula von der Leyen, spearheaded by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, is a significant example of politics and policy-and-legislation, as it centers on allegations of mismanagement within the European Commission and the transparency of the EU's coronavirus policy.
- Amidst the broader discussion of general news related to the European Commission's leadership, the "Pfizergate case" motion tabled by Piperea has sparked controversy, with implications for the future of von der Leyen's presidency and the accountability of European Commission officials.
