Completed
Ursula von der Leyen pictured with EU flag after key vote
UPDATED Selective GLB

Von der Leyen Survives No-Confidence Votes in Parliament

Von der Leyen Survives Dual No-Confidence Votes

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived two no-confidence motions on October 9, 2025, as centrist lawmakers decisively rejected far-right and far-left attempts to remove her.

  • First motion defeated with 378 votes against
  • Second motion failed with 383 votes against
  • Two-thirds majority of 361 votes was required
  • Centrist coalition held firm despite policy disagreements
  • Far-right criticized US and Mercosur trade deals
  • Far-left condemned Gaza crisis response failures
  • Greens voted to avoid institutional instability
  • Support improved from July 2025 vote results

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived two no-confidence motions in the European Parliament on October 9, 2025, with centrist lawmakers firmly backing her leadership. The votes rejected far-right and far-left attempts to remove her from office, though support levels revealed ongoing tensions within the 720-member legislature.

Strong Centrist Support Blocks Removal

The first motion, introduced by the far-right Patriots for Europe group, was defeated with 378 votes against and 179 in favor. The second motion from The Left group failed with 383 votes against and 133 in favor. [1][2] Both required a two-thirds majority of 361 votes to succeed, which neither came close to reaching. [3][4]

Coalition Holds Despite Fragmentation

The European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, and Renew Europe groups united to protect von der Leyen despite internal disagreements on policy matters. [5] The Greens also voted to support her, with co-chair Bas Eickhout stating that removing the Commission during current global challenges would not be smart. [6]

Opposition Targets Trade and Crisis Response

Patriots for Europe leader Jordan Bardella criticized von der Leyen for trade agreements with the United States and Mercosur bloc, arguing they harm European farmers and exporters. [7][8] The Left co-chair Manon Aubry condemned the Commission for inaction on Israel’s actions in Gaza and insufficient climate policy. [9][10]

Both opposition groups attacked what they called a lack of transparency in recent trade negotiations and alleged failures to address migration and social crises effectively. [11]

Vote Results Show Improved Standing

The October 9 results marked an improvement from von der Leyen’s previous no-confidence vote in July 2025, when 360 lawmakers supported her. [12] However, support remained below the 401 votes she secured for her second term in July 2024. [13]

The European Parliament voting breakdown revealed the following outcomes:

  • First motion received 378 votes against, 179 for, and 37 abstentions
  • Second motion received 383 votes against, 133 for, and 78 abstentions
  • Total participation reached 594 members out of 720 available
  • The two-thirds threshold required 361 votes to pass
  • Far-right representation exceeds 100 members in current Parliament

Continued Parliamentary Challenges Expected

Following the votes, von der Leyen expressed gratitude for the support and stated the Commission would continue working closely with Parliament to tackle European challenges. [14] The Left group criticized the outcome, claiming it fails to reflect public sentiment and the Commission’s unpopularity across member states. [15] Upcoming votes on the United States and Mercosur trade agreements in coming months will test whether her parliamentary coalition remains intact. [16]

Emily Johnson

Emily Johnson

Senior Political Journalist

United States – Washington, D.C. World

Emily Johnson is a senior journalist and political analyst with nearly a decade of experience in political journalism, international affairs, policy analysis, and investigative reporting. She holds a B.A. in Journalism & Political Communication from Georgetown University (2015), where she built a strong foundation in international relations, media ethics, and data-driven reporting. Emily began her career as a staff writer for Reuters before joining Politico Europe, where she became known for her evidence-based and policy-focused coverage of global political developments, leadership transitions, and international diplomacy. Currently based in Berlin, Germany, she contributes to Faharas NET, focusing on global politics, European policy, and cross-border investigations. Her writing blends rigorous fact-checking, accessible analysis, and deep geopolitical insight, earning her a reputation for credibility and balance in an increasingly polarized media landscape.

36
Articles
363
Views
5
Shares
Politico

Politico

Primary Source

Elena Voren

Elena Voren

Senior Editor

Blog Business Entertainment Sports News

Elena Voren is a senior journalist and Tech Section Editor with 8 years of experience focusing on AI ethics, social media impact, and consumer software. She is recognized for interviewing industry leaders and academic experts while clearly distinguishing opinion from evidence-based reporting. She earned her B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2016), where she studied human-computer interaction, AI, and digital behavior. Elena’s work emphasizes the societal implications of technology, ensuring readers understand both the practical and ethical dimensions of emerging tools. She leads the Tech Section at Faharas NET, supervising coverage on AI, consumer software, digital society, and privacy technologies, while maintaining rigorous editorial standards. Based in Berlin, Germany, Elena provides insightful analyses on technology trends, ethical AI deployment, and the influence of social platforms on modern life.

0
Articles
0
Views
0
Shares
407
Updates

Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Elena Voren
Add SEO improvements
— by Kamar Mahmoud
  1. Complete article rewrite with verified October 2025 data
  2. Replaced all content with current vote results
  3. Updated title and meta descriptions for accuracy
  4. Revised TL;DR headline summary and key points
  5. Rewrote all three FAQ questions and answers
  6. Replaced all secondary sources with October 8 to 12 sources
  7. Restructured article with proper HTML formatting
  8. Added bullet list for Parliament voting breakdown
— by Kamar Mahmoud
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Kamar Mahmoud
  1. Updated article to reflect October 9 2025 vote results instead of predictions
  2. Corrected first motion vote count to 378 against 179 for 37 abstentions
  3. Corrected second motion vote count to 383 against 133 for 78 abstentions
  4. Updated total participation to 594 members out of 720
  5. Clarified two thirds majority threshold of 361 votes required
  6. Removed outdated debate content from October 6
  7. Replaced with actual vote outcomes and post vote statements
  8. Updated all source citations to October 8 to 12 2025 publications
  9. Removed duplicate sources per protocol requirements
  10. Corrected Greens position with quote from Bas Eickhout
  11. Updated centrist coalition response details
  12. Added context on July 2025 and July 2024 vote comparisons

FAQ

What were the main criticisms against von der Leyen?

Far-right groups criticized trade agreements with the United States and Mercosur that they claim harm European farmers. Far-left groups condemned her response to the Gaza crisis and inadequate climate policies. Both sides accused the Commission of lacking transparency in negotiations.

How did the centrist coalition respond to the votes?

The European People's Party, Socialists and Democrats, and Renew Europe united to support von der Leyen. The Greens also voted in favor, stating that removing the Commission would destabilize European institutions during a time of global challenges.

What are the implications for upcoming trade votes?

The European Parliament will vote on trade agreements with the United States and Mercosur in the coming months. These votes remain uncertain and will test whether von der Leyen's centrist coalition can hold together despite disagreements over trade policy.