The European Parliament rejected, on Thursday, two motions of censure filed by the radical left and the far right against the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
On July 10, the EP rejected another motion initiated at that time by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea.
Even though these motions fail to gather enough votes to cause problems for Ursula von der Leyen, there are enough reasons to give her real headaches and unrest. Very different groups of people in the European Parliament want to bring her down from power.
And it's never a good idea to wage a war on multiple fronts. But Ursula von der Leyen, at the helm of the European Commission since 2019, has no alternative: danger lurks from all directions.
From the "trenches" of the Brussels headquarters, she must fend off everyone - each for different reasons and at different times - if she wants to survive politically. It's not just about the censure motions in the European Parliament, but also about those who threaten her more subtly: those who feel betrayed, former friends turned enemies, or those whose standards she never intended to meet.
Most of these "tribes" do not get along with each other - and that helps her. The enemy remains divided.
But trying to figure out where the attacks are coming from is a confusing task. Here is a guide compiled by Politico:
Disappointed Ecologists
Environmental and climate activists are among the most disappointed with von der Leyen since the beginning of her second term in December.
If the first Commission (2019-2024) made the Green Deal a flagship initiative - with emissions reduction policies, biodiversity protection, and transition to renewable energy - after the 2024 European elections, the focus shifted dramatically.
Now it's about reducing bureaucracy and massive investments in industry to revive the anemic European economy. In other words, policies that are not "green" at all.
This change has raised concerns among devoted supporters of the Green Deal, who warn that the new legislative proposals, referred to by the Commission as "omnibus packages," risk undoing previous progress. In June, the Commission suggested withdrawing the anti-greenwashing directive, triggering a harsh reaction. In September, it announced the postponement of the implementation of the deforestation regulation, citing IT issues - a justification contested even within the Commission, including by Vice President Teresa Ribera.
- Why they give her headaches: although the influence of ecologists has decreased after the elections, von der Leyen needs their support for some laws. Moreover, their protests and spectacular actions attract public attention.
Those Who Hate Her
Coming from outside the mainstream politics, but increasingly numerous, these actors make contesting Ursula von der Leyen a sport.
The European Parliament has more far-right and far-left MEPs than ever before. The two censure motions this week come from these extremes.
Throughout Europe, anti-EU forces are becoming increasingly vocal. If before Brexit, Eurosceptic criticisms came mainly from the UK, now von der Leyen hears them almost daily from all corners of the continent.
These politicians know that noise is half the battle - and they are masters of social networks, where they quickly gain ground compared to the cumbersome communication machinery of the Commission.
- Why they give her headaches: even if they do not have enough votes to block her policies, they dominate the public narrative and inject chaos into every debate. For every 300-page Commission regulation, they come up with a 10-second viral clip that undermines the message.
Those Who Stab Her in the Back
Von der Leyen leads the European People's Party (EPP), the largest political family in the EU. Although the party's president, Manfred Weber, tries to temper internal disputes, deep divergences persist.
At times, von der Leyen is forced to confront her own allies because she must maintain the balance between commissioners from various political families. When she announced sanctions against Israeli ministers and the suspension of bilateral ties, German politicians from the EPP reacted furiously.
Now, her party threatens two key issues: the EU's multiannual budget and the objective of climate neutrality by 2040.
- Why they give her headaches: the EPP is the "king" of the European Parliament - nothing passes without its approval, and the full support of the party is vital for implementing the Commission's program.
European Puritans
This category accuses von der Leyen of weakening EU institutions.
Europhiles are outraged that, they say, she "humiliated Europe" by accepting higher tariffs for European goods in a trade agreement with the US, following threats from President Donald Trump. Others accuse her of betraying European farmers by pressuring to sign the Mercosur agreement with South American states.
A frequent criticism is that she has excessively centralized power in the Commission, deleted messages from her phone, and led "dysfunctional" communication. The "subtribe" of pro-EU parliamentarians accuses her of marginalizing the role of the Parliament, especially when the Commission created a €150 billion defense fund without involving MEPs.
- Why they give her headaches: they are noisy and active in the public space, flooding the "Brussels bubble" with outraged posts and statements.
Puppeteers
The European Union has accumulated unprecedented powers, and the head of the Commission leads an executive that legislates for over 420 million citizens. However, the real power remains with the leaders of the 27 member states - those who put her there and can remove her just as quickly.
If in the past only Hungary and Slovakia criticized the Commission, now they have been joined by leaders once favorable - including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Many heads of state have denounced the trade agreement with the US as "weak," and the climate neutrality plan for 2040 or the idea of a "drone wall" against Russian incursions have sparked opposition.
- Why they give her headaches: they hold the real political power. They can support her or sacrifice her, depending on their interests.
Thus, von der Leyen seems caught between five rival tribes: the disappointed ecologists, the noisy extremists, the treacherous allies, the Euro-puritans, and the national leaders who maneuver her from the shadows. Each challenges her on something different - but they all complicate her political survival, is the conclusion of Politico journalists.
G.P.