Reference News, July 7 - According to AFP, on July 7, EU Commission President von der Leyen will face questioning by parliamentarians and will undergo a vote of confidence a few days later. She is almost certainly going to pass safely, but this will once again bring her leadership abilities within the EU into focus.
The report said that far-right factions have launched an unusual challenge against this conservative EU Commission president, but they have little chance of removing her from office in the vote scheduled for July 10 in Strasbourg.
However, after von der Leyen's re-election anniversary one year ago, the debate will give her various opponents an opportunity to voice their views at the EU assembly.
The vote of no confidence was initiated by a far-right Romanian MP, Georgie Pippere, who accused von der Leyen of lacking transparency in text messages sent to the head of Pfizer during negotiations over the COVID-19 vaccine.
The refusal of the European Commission to disclose these information has led to multiple lawsuits, with The New York Times also being one of the plaintiffs. This incident has given critics more reason to accuse von der Leyen of implementing opaque decision-making.
In addition to the "Pfizer Gate," Pippere also accused the European Commission of interfering in Romania's recent presidential election, in which nationalist critics of the EU, George Simion, lost to pro-EU candidate Nicușor Dan.
The report stated that the left and center will not support the motion to remove von der Leyen, which is certain. However, both camps hope to push von der Leyen to clarify her position - they accuse her of catering to the far right to advance controversial measures, especially the rollback of environmental policies.
If the vote results in "no confidence," von der Leyen's European Commission will resign collectively, which would be a first in history. (Translated by Zhu Li)
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524321580533531155/
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