Ursula von der Leyen fights back as EU Parliament challenges her leadership with two censure motions

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pushed back against efforts to unseat her, warning lawmakers not to fall for political traps designed to divide the bloc. She argued that the censure motions play directly into the hands of “our adversaries, who thrive on European disunity.”

Source Euronews

Von der Leyen linked the renewed pressure to Russian disinformation tactics and recent remarks by Vladimir Putin, who accused the EU of escalating the war in Ukraine. Calling it “the oldest trick in the book,” she urged MEPs to resist manipulation and maintain unity.

The two censure motions — brought forward by far-right and far-left parties — are widely expected to fail, but they highlight deepening political rifts in Brussels. Most centrist groups, including the EPP, Socialists & Democrats, and Renew Europe, are set to back von der Leyen in the upcoming Thursday vote.