European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has comfortably survived two no-confidence motions tabled by far-right and left-wing groups, as the European Parliament rejected both bids to remove her on October 9.
Strong Parliamentary Support
In the 720-member chamber, 378 lawmakers backed von der Leyen in the first vote and 383 in the second, ensuring her position remains secure. Writing on X, von der Leyen expressed her deep gratitude for the show of confidence, saying her team of commissioners would continue working closely with the Parliament to address Europe’s key challenges.
I deeply appreciate the strong support received today.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 9, 2025
The Commission will keep working closely with the European Parliament to tackle Europe’s challenges. And together deliver results for all European citizens.
United for our people, our values and our future.
The outcome marks a modest improvement from July, when 360 lawmakers opposed a similar motion from mainly far-right members, though it still falls short of the 401 votes that secured her re-election for a second term in July 2024.
Symbolic Challenge Highlights Discontent
While the motions stood little chance of reaching the two-thirds majority needed to unseat her, some lawmakers viewed the effort as a sign of growing unease over von der Leyen’s leadership. The episode also underscored how easily censure motions can now be launched following the 2024 elections, which saw far-right representation rise to over 100 seats, well above the 72 required to trigger such proceedings.
Trade Deals at the Centre of Criticism
Both motions condemned von der Leyen’s handling of trade negotiations, accusing her of accepting an unbalanced tariff deal with the United States and advancing a trade pact with the Mercosur bloc that critics claim endangers farmers and the environment.
The proposed agreements with Washington and Mercosur are expected to face votes in the European Parliament in the coming months, with their approval far from guaranteed.
Kursiv also reports that Moldova’s pro-European ruling party secured a commanding victory over its Russia-leaning opponent in a parliamentary election seen as pivotal for the country’s future.
