EU Confidential No-confidence vote: Is the EU Parliament about to break?
Jul 11, 2025
Katarina Barley, the Socialist Vice President of the European Parliament, tackles the recent no-confidence vote against Ursula von der Leyen, revealing deep tensions within the pro-European coalition. She discusses the rising influence of far-right elements and the need for unity. Journalist Veronika Melkozerova shares her harrowing experiences from Kyiv, painting a vivid picture of life under constant Russian bombardment and the emotional toll of war. Together, they provide a gripping look at the current challenges facing Europe and Ukraine.
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Rare EU No-Confidence Vote
- No-confidence votes in the EU Parliament are extremely rare and usually fail.
- Ursula von der Leyen faced such a motion this week, sparking unprecedented public political tensions.
Motions Expose Coalition Fractures
- The motion of censure against von der Leyen was filed due to perceived overreach and lack of parliament involvement.
- It aimed partly to expose fractures within her pro-European centrist coalition and trigger political accountability.
Coalition Tensions Over Far-Right Deals
- The motion sparked a rare airing of grievances from centrist and left groups about EPP deals with far-right parties.
- Socialists and liberals warned EPP against drifting too far right or risking coalition fracture.