The European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen, is facing a motion of no confidence in the European Parliament. The initiative was confirmed on Wednesday evening by the Romanian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the right-wing populist European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, who initiated the request.
To force the entire Commission to resign, the motion would require a two-thirds majority of the 720 MEPs.
Parliament President Roberta Metsola informed parliamentary groups of the motion on Wednesday evening. The request has been submitted by 79 MEPs, meeting the minimum threshold of ten percent of the European Parliament’s membership required to initiate such a process. The MEPs are citing alleged mismanagement by President von der Leyen during the COVID-19 crisis as the basis for their concerns.
Two deadlines are now in effect. A period of 24 hours must pass before a vote on the motion can take place. However, a decision on the motion of no confidence must be reached within a maximum of 72 hours.
No motion of no confidence against the EU Commission has ever been successful. However, in 1999, significant public pressure stemming from a similar request led to the voluntary resignation of Commission President Jacques Santer.