Not long ago, Ursula von der Leyen seemed untouchable in Brussels politics. She navigated the pandemic, spoke loudly about “European unity,” and tried to project herself as the EU’s “Iron Lady.” Today, her position is shakier than ever. The most recent vote of no confidence in the European Parliament has made one thing clear: her support is collapsing, her allies are retreating, and the scandals keep piling up.
History of no-confidence votes
Von der Leyen has faced no-confidence votes before. In July 2024, 175 MEPs voted for her dismissal, while 360 opposed it. She survived, but the cracks in her coalition were already visible. The second serious challenge came in October 2025. The result: 378 in favor of removing her, 383 against. A razor-thin margin of just five votes—unthinkable in a chamber that once gave her a comfortable mandate.
For context: back in 2019, when von der Leyen was first elected, she secured exactly 383 votes in favor, only nine more than the minimum required. Today, that very number barely keeps her in office.
These votes were not mere formality. They showed that large sections of the Parliament—including socialists, greens, and even some liberals—no longer believe she is capable of leading the European Union.
Who votes against her, and why
The lines are increasingly fractured. The European People’s Party, liberal Renew Europe, and parts of the Greens continue to back her. But even inside those groups, the consensus is evaporating.
Voting against her are the conservatives from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID), and a growing number of social democrats. Their reasons differ, but the underlying message is the same: von der Leyen personifies a bureaucratic, aloof Brussels that imposes decisions without respecting national interests.
Eastern European MEPs are particularly vocal. Hungarian representatives say the Commission has become a “punitive organ” under her watch, withholding funds from countries that refuse to follow Brussels’ ideological line. Polish deputies accuse her of “replacing collective EU leadership with personal rule.”
National leaders join the chorus
The pressure is no longer just parliamentary. National leaders themselves are increasingly speaking out. Viktor Orbán has repeatedly claimed that von der Leyen “cannot be a neutral arbiter.” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has openly called for her resignation.
Even in France—where Emmanuel Macron has long been one of her strongest allies—the discontent is growing. Figures from La France Insoumise accuse her of “stalling European democracy.”
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni put it bluntly: “The European Commission must serve all member states, not just German and French interests.” It was a thinly veiled jab at von der Leyen, who is often accused of advancing her own personal and German interests at the expense of the broader Union.
The scandals that weaken her
Every crisis around von der Leyen has been magnified by scandal. The most infamous: “Pfizergate.” In 2021, it was revealed that she personally exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding a multibillion-euro vaccine contract. Those messages mysteriously disappeared, and the European Court of Auditors was denied access to them. The episode became a symbol of her opaque governing style.
Then came the pandemic recovery fund. Spain and Italy received generous packages, while Hungary and Poland saw funds frozen over “rule of law concerns.” Critics call this pure political blackmail, proof that von der Leyen used EU money as leverage against governments that defied her.
In 2024, a fresh controversy erupted when her son was linked to major energy lobbying networks. Although direct conflicts of interest were not proven, the optics were damning—feeding the image of an insulated, corrupt elite.
Polls confirm the erosion of support. According to a September 2025 Ipsos survey, von der Leyen’s average approval across the EU stands at just 23%. In Italy, it is 18%; in France, 20%; in Germany, 25%.
For comparison: in 2021, these figures were nearly double. Even among pro-EU voters, her image has deteriorated sharply. Only in Luxembourg and the Netherlands does her approval exceed 30%.
Perhaps the sharpest criticism is directed at her governing style. She is often called “the sole proprietor of Brussels.” She makes decisions without consulting the Parliament—or even her fellow Commissioners.
Insiders describe her as a micromanager whose obsession with control paralyzes the Commission. Policies are drafted in secrecy, with colleagues sidelined and national governments informed only after decisions are made.
Her migration policy is a prime example. She pushed through the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum despite fierce resistance from Eastern Europe. The pact was passed, but instantly sparked protests and worsened the political rifts it was supposed to mend.
Could she actually be removed?
Technically, yes: the European Parliament can dismiss the Commission through a motion of censure, requiring a two-thirds majority. In practice, however, that threshold has always been seen as unattainable. Too many lawmakers fear the chaos of a sudden leadership vacuum.
But the arithmetic is shifting. A margin of just five votes in October is a warning sign. If a few dozen more deputies switch sides, the unthinkable could become reality. And with European elections looming in 2026, politicians are watching their voters more than Brussels power brokers.
President against the tide
What began as the promise of a “geopolitical Commission” has curdled into a presidency marred by distrust. Far from uniting the bloc, von der Leyen has become the lightning rod of discontent.
She insists on staying, but the numbers, the scandals, and the protests are all pointing in the opposite direction. The irony is bitter: the woman who wanted to embody a strong, united Europe is now its most divisive figure.
The von der Leyen saga is no longer about whether she will leave, but when—and under what circumstances.
Her defiance in the face of mounting opposition only deepens the crisis. The European Parliament is restless, national leaders are turning away, and European citizens express record levels of mistrust.
History has a cruel sense of symmetry. The Commission once fell under Jacques Santer in 1999 after scandals of corruption and mismanagement. If von der Leyen is not careful, her tenure could end the same way—with a forced resignation under the weight of her own controversies.
Until then, Europe must grapple with an uncomfortable reality: it is led by a president nobody trusts.
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