The MEP from the Romanian far-right party “Alliance for the Unification of Romanians“ (AUR) Gheorghe Piperea has officially submitted a motion for a vote of no confidence against the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. This is clear from a press release from the party, also distributed to the BTA editorial office.
The proposal is supported by over a tenth of the members of the European Parliament - a minimum of 74 MEPs - which means that the procedural requirements for considering the initiative have been met.
“This initiative was made possible thanks to the support of the Polish delegation from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, the "Europe of Sovereign Nations", as well as some members of the Patriots and Independents group. Surprisingly, even representatives of the European People's Party have joined, which shows growing dissatisfaction across traditional political lines," said Pipería.
The issue will be included in the agenda of the meeting of the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, scheduled for July 2, with the vote expected to take place in the plenary session in Strasbourg between July 7 and 10.
“The proposal provides the necessary framework for constructive and reasoned criticism of Ursula von der Leyen“, the AUR statement also states.
The European Parliament consists of 720 members. Last year, 401 of them supported von der Leyen for a second term as head of the European Commission.
Pipería's initiative is related to the lawsuit known as “Pfizergate“, in connection with the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, but also questions the way von der Leyen communicates with the European Parliament. Criticism also comes from centrist and left-wing circles, who accuse the Commission President of often ignoring the EU's only directly elected institution and being too accommodating to member state governments.
In June, AUR leader and former presidential candidate Gheorghe Simion announced the launch of a campaign to collect signatures to table a vote of no confidence against von der Leyen. According to the European Parliament's Rules of Procedure, such a motion can be tabled by at least one tenth of MEPs.