European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is facing a formal motion of no confidence in the European Parliament, following renewed controversy over her role in the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine negotiations and mounting criticism over institutional transparency and political overreach.
The motion was officially tabled this week by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who secured the required 72 signatures to trigger parliamentary proceedings. The move is rooted in von der Leyen’s refusal to disclose a series of text messages she reportedly exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla in 2021 while negotiating what became the EU’s largest vaccine contract. The case, dubbed “Pfizergate,” has reignited accusations of executive opacity at the highest levels of the EU.
In February, the EU General Court ruled that von der Leyen’s office had violated European transparency rules by not providing access to the requested communications. Despite mounting pressure from MEPs and watchdog groups, the Commission has continued to resist calls for disclosure, fueling bipartisan frustration in the legislature.
The no-confidence motion, while unlikely to succeed given the two-thirds majority required in the 720-member Parliament, underscores growing unease over von der Leyen’s leadership style. Critics accuse her of bypassing Parliament on key initiatives, including controversial changes to green finance legislation and the roll-out of a new €150 billion defense initiative known as “SAFE,” part of the bloc’s broader “Readiness 2030” strategy.
Opposition to the Commission president has expanded beyond traditional ideological lines. While the motion was initiated by far-right factions, some voices within von der Leyen’s own European People’s Party (EPP) have reportedly expressed quiet support. Centrist and liberal groups, including Renew Europe and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), have thus far rejected the motion and labeled it politically opportunistic.
Still, tensions are running high. Liberal Renew leader Valérie Hayer warned that the motion could trigger an institutional crisis, especially if mainstream parties continue cooperating with hard-right factions on legislative matters. This follows recent parliamentary battles over the European Commission’s decision to weaken environmental standards in financial regulation, which passed with backing from both EPP and far-right MEPs.
The Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee has also taken steps toward potential legal action against the Commission over unilateral budget decisions. Lawmakers argue that von der Leyen has encroached on the Parliament’s budgetary authority by advancing defense spending plans without sufficient legislative oversight.
The no-confidence vote is expected within the next month. Historically, such motions have been rare in EU politics. Only four have been attempted since the Commission’s founding, and just one — in 1999 — resulted in a forced resignation, when the Santer Commission stepped down amid fraud allegations.
Even if von der Leyen survives the upcoming vote, her political capital may be weakened ahead of critical negotiations on EU defense posture, climate transition policy, and the potential expansion of the bloc’s strategic autonomy in tech and trade. With European elections just a year away, the Commission’s internal crisis could have broader implications for Brussels’ stability and credibility on the world stage.
