European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will face a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament on Thursday.
According to Politico, the German politician will appear for the no-confidence motion debate on Monday in Strasbourg, with the vote scheduled three days later.
The motion was initiated by Romanian right-wing lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea after he gathered enough signatures last week. His action is linked to secret messages exchanged between Von der Leyen and Albert Bourla, CEO of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, in 2021. These messages concern the procurement of coronavirus vaccines for Europe at the height of the pandemic.
Symbolic Challenge Amidst Growing Discontent
This marks the first time in over a decade that the head of the Commission has faced such a challenge. At this stage, the vote is largely symbolic, as most political groups have already signaled they will vote against the no-confidence motion. However, the initiative underscores growing anger towards Von der Leyen in Brussels following a series of controversial moves and scandals.
If the no-confidence motion were to pass, it would lead to the resignation of the entire Commission. Notably, some members of Von der Leyen’s own European People’s Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists Party withdrew their support for the motion after internal pressure.
