European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has survived a vote of no confidence in the European Parliament on Thursday, following accusations of a lack of transparency over text messages exchanged with Pfizer’s CEO during COVID-19 vaccine negotiations.
The motion, launched by Romanian far-right MEP Gheorghe Piperea, was firmly rejected: over two-thirds of the MEPs voted against the initiative.
Among those supporting her dismissal were two Lithuanian MEPs – Petras Gražulis and Waldemar Tomaszewski. Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis abstained, and Aurelijus Veryga did not participate in the vote.
“In a moment of global volatility and unpredictability, the EU needs strength, vision, and the capacity to act,” von der Leyen wrote on social media platform X after the vote. She did not attend the vote in Strasbourg.
“As external forces seek to destabilise and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe,” she added.
Earlier this week, von der Leyen had dismissed the no-confidence effort as a conspiracy-driven attempt to sow division in Europe. She labelled its backers “anti-vaxxers” and apologists for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Commission chief urged MEPs to stand behind her leadership, stressing the importance of EU unity amid multiple challenges, from trade talks with the US to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In addition to the so-called “Pfizergate” allegations, Piperea also accused the Commission of meddling in Romania’s recent presidential election, where pro-European Nicușor Dan narrowly defeated nationalist EU critic George Simion.
The Romanian MEP received support from some left-wing groups and elements of the far right, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. “It is time to go,” Orbán posted on X, alongside a photo of von der Leyen.
However, Piperea’s own political group, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), appeared divided. Its largest member, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s party, had earlier pledged support for von der Leyen.
The two largest European Parliament blocs – the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats – firmly rejected the challenge.
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