Ursula von der Leyen faces vote of no confidence

Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU Commission, faces a confidence vote in the European Parliament next week. The vote comes after accusations of mismanagement and lack of transparency regarding COVID-19 policies. The motion, initiated by a Romanian MP, received support from over 72 members, necessitating a parliamentary debate.

While a vote of no confidence would require a two-thirds majority to pass, experts believe this scenario is unlikely. Critics within her party and from the right are concerned about recent decisions, including a defense funding program lacking parliamentary involvement. EVP leader Manfred Weber dismissed the motion as a political tactic lacking public support. Misstrauensanträge have been rare with the last one in 2014 failing.