Thu Jul 10 10:58:48 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived a vote of no confidence in the European Parliament. The motion, brought by hard-right lawmakers, cited allegations of misuse of EU funds, private communications with Pfizer’s CEO during the pandemic, and interference in elections. The motion was overwhelmingly defeated, with a significant number of lawmakers rejecting it. The vote highlighted tensions within the EU Parliament, with accusations of the EPP cozying up to the far-right, and clashes with figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over democracy and EU funds.

**News Article:**

**Von der Leyen Survives No-Confidence Vote Amidst EU Political Wrangling**

**Brussels -** European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen weathered a storm in the European Parliament, successfully defeating a motion of no confidence on Thursday, July 10, 2025. The motion, brought forth by hard-right lawmakers, accused Ms. Von der Leyen of various improprieties, including private text messaging with the CEO of Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic, misuse of EU funds, and meddling in German and Romanian elections.

The vote concluded with a resounding rejection of the motion, 360 to 175, with 18 abstentions. Ms. Von der Leyen was not present during the session in Strasbourg, France.

The failed motion has exposed deep divisions within the European Union and its Parliament. Accusations have flown regarding the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political group in the assembly, allegedly aligning itself with the far-right to advance its agenda. Critics, like Greens group president Terry Reintke, decried the motion as a “far-right PR stunt from Putin-loving populists,” while also warning against the EPP’s perceived embrace of anti-European forces.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a frequent critic of the European Commission, called the vote a “moment of truth” between Brussels elites and patriotic forces, urging Von der Leyen to resign. Orban’s government has faced scrutiny from the Commission, leading to the freezing of billions in EU funds.

The second largest group, the Socialists and Democrats, criticized the EPP for creating conditions that allowed the motion to even be considered. Tensions remain high as the EU Parliament grapples with its shifting political landscape and the future direction of the Union.

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