Ursula von der Leyen blames Russian interference for confidence vote

In the European Parliament, a confidence vote was scheduled to occur regarding Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, who has faced growing opposition. This vote, the first significant attempt to remove her, stems from her refusal to disclose text messages with Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer, amid vaccine negotiations. Over the past months, von der Leyen's governing coalition has notably weakened, leading to a motion of no confidence supported by 78 parliamentarians, surpassing the required threshold. Her opponents, particularly from the hard-right, such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, have called for her resignation, citing various allegations including misuse of EU funds and alleged interference in national elections. Von der Leyen characterized these adversaries as extremism-fueled puppets of Moscow, asserting that their attempts threaten the democratic integrity of Europe. She has publicly claimed these efforts are examples of a broader struggle against illiberalism. Despite the significant opposition, it remains unlikely that the motion will secure the two-thirds majority required for her ousting, as many political groups have expressed intentions to vote against it. Von der Leyen herself is expected to abstain from attending the vote, evidencing the tension and the high stakes involved in the proceedings. Commentary around this confidence vote highlights growing political divisions in the European Union, particularly as left-wing parties criticize the European People's Party for aligning with far-right factions to bolster their agenda. Many view the situation as a critical moment not only for von der Leyen's future but also for the delicate balance of power within the EU Council and Parliament.