President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen is set to face simultaneous no-confidence votes in the European Parliament this week, proposed separately by the Patriots for Europe (PfE) and the Left. The motions will be debated at 5 p.m. (CEST) on Monday before a vote on Thursday at noon, only three months after von der Leyen defeated her first no-confidence motion.
The two groups assert there is growing backlash to the EU–US trade deal after critics claimed that it imposed “highly unfavorable terms” on European exporters and promised €750 billions of energy spending and €600 billions of investment in the US marketplace. A poll recently stated 52% of Europeans see the deal as “humiliating.” The groups also oppose the EU Canadian deal, arguing it harms European farmers and others, and claim that von der Leyen undertakes opaque governance and policy overreach.
While the Party for Freedom (PfE) criticizes her approach to immigration and climate policies, The Left criticizes her “failure” to address climate action and the war on Gaza. Nonetheless, von der Leyen is expected to survive the votes, supported by the European People’s Party (EPP), Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe.
Analysts say the motions illustrate the deepening political polarization in the EU as von der Leyen begins a second term against the backdrop of economic stagnation, geopolitical crises, and disunity at home. Basel cites that the chances of securing a challenge against von der Leyen are slim: the simultaneous motions that were proposed do underscored the fragile nature of power which influences who leads from Brussels, which is also relative to increasing tension on von der Leyen’s model of governance.
