Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, is once again under fire as she braces for two separate no-confidence votes in the European Parliament scheduled for early October 2025. These motions, filed by opposing political groups—the far-right Patriots for Europe and the hard-left The Left—highlight deep divisions in Brussels over trade policies, foreign affairs, and leadership accountability. With a history of surviving similar challenges, von der Leyen’s response strategy focuses on rallying her pro-European coalition.
A Rare Escalation in EU Politics
No-confidence motions against the European Commission President are uncommon, with the last successful one dating back to 1999 under Jacques Santer amid a corruption scandal. Von der Leyen, a former German defense minister and the first woman to lead the Commission since 2019, faced her most recent challenge in July 2025. That motion, initiated by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, centered on the “Pfizergate” scandal—involving alleged lack of transparency in COVID-19 vaccine negotiations with Pfizer, including missing text messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla.
The July vote failed decisively: only 175 MEPs supported it, while 360 voted against, and 18 abstained—far short of the required two-thirds majority (at least 480 votes in favor out of 720 MEPs). Von der Leyen dismissed the allegations as “simply a lie” and labeled critics as “conspiracy theorists,” framing the attack as politically motivated rather than substantive.
The new motions were filed at midnight on September 10, 2025—the earliest possible date after the July vote cooldown period. They will be debated during the Parliament’s plenary session from October 6 to 9, 2025, in Strasbourg, with votes potentially on October 9. This dual assault from ideological extremes underscores von der Leyen’s polarizing role in navigating EU crises, from economic recovery to geopolitical tensions.
Trade and Leadership Failures
The Patriots for Europe, a Eurosceptic far-right group led by figures like Jordan Bardella (France’s National Rally) and Viktor Orbán’s allies, gathered 85 signatures to file their motion—exceeding the required 72 (one-tenth of MEPs). Their accusations focus on von der Leyen’s alleged lack of transparency and accountability, particularly in trade deals.
Key grievances include:
- EU-US Trade Framework: Criticized as making the EU a “vassal” to U.S. interests, with asymmetrical terms lacking democratic oversight.
- EU-Mercosur Agreement: The 2024 deal with South American nations is slammed for harming European agriculture and competitiveness.
- Broader Failures: The group claims the EU is “weaker today than ever” due to von der Leyen’s inability to address migration, peace, and economic challenges. As stated in their motion: “The EU is weaker today than ever due to the persistent failure of the president of the Commission to cope with the most pressing challenges.”
This motion aligns with the group’s nationalist agenda, viewing von der Leyen’s globalist approach as detrimental to European sovereignty.
Reasons Behind The Left’s Motion:
The Left, a hard-left group co-led by Manon Aubry and Martin Schirdewan, secured 72 signatures, including cross-support from some Greens, non-attached MEPs, and even one Socialist. Their motion demands the resignation of the entire Commission, emphasizing foreign policy failures and domestic neglect.
Primary accusations:
- Handling of the Israel-Hamas Conflict: The group blasts the Commission’s “failure to act” on Gaza, accusing it of inaction amid alleged violations of international law. They call for suspending the EU-Israel association agreement, imposing sanctions on Israel, and enforcing a comprehensive arms embargo. Aubry stated: “The EU has closed its eyes in front of one of the worst catastrophes of our century, with more than 60,000 dead.”
- Trade Policies: Echoing the Patriots, they denounce the EU-US deal as “prejudicial, asymmetrical, non-reciprocal” and the Mercosur agreement for “killing European agriculture.” Aubry criticized: “There is a tendency within the European Commission to push things through by force.”
- Climate and Social Crises: The motion condemns the Commission’s inaction on Europe’s environmental and social emergencies, framing von der Leyen as prioritizing corporate interests over people.
This reflects The Left’s progressive stance, using the motion to spotlight humanitarian and ecological issues.
Rallying Allies and Dismissing Critics
Von der Leyen has a track record of resilience, having survived the July 2025 Pfizergate vote by a wide margin. Her strategy emphasizes coalition-building and framing opponents as extremists.
- Coalition Support: She relies on the pro-European majority, including her European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists, Liberals, and occasionally Greens and Conservatives. Allies are mobilizing to “send a signal of stability,” as an EPP official noted, focusing on maintaining unity amid global uncertainties like U.S. elections and Ukraine support.
- Public Dismissal: In past challenges, von der Leyen has directly refuted claims, calling them lies and conspiracy-driven. While she hasn’t publicly addressed the new motions yet (as of September 17, 2025), her approach likely involves highlighting achievements like the EU’s pandemic recovery fund and Ukraine aid to counter criticisms.
- Strategic Concessions: Analysts suggest she may make targeted concessions, such as adjusting trade negotiations or amplifying EU humanitarian efforts in Gaza, to peel away wavering supporters from the fringes. Her recent State of the Union address emphasized unity against external threats, indirectly addressing accusations of weakness.
Experts view these motions as “proxy wars” testing the Parliament’s balance post-2024 elections, but with low chances of success without broader backing.
Potential Outcomes
Success for either motion is improbable, needing 480+ votes—a threshold unmet in recent history. If passed, the entire Commission would resign, triggering a leadership crisis. More likely, von der Leyen will emerge stronger, but the debates could expose fractures in EU policy on trade and Middle East affairs. As Brussels watches, these votes test von der Leyen’s endurance amid rising populism.
