European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen accused Russian agents of challenging her leadership in Brussels on Monday, saying “there is ample proof that many are supported by our enemies and by their puppet masters in Russia or elsewhere.”
A motion calling for a no-confidence vote received the requisite 72 signatures from European parliamentarians, an initiative led by Euro-skeptic Romanian representative Gheorghe Piperea. The vote is expected to reach the floor on Thursday.
Nominally, at least, the proposal for censure stems from von der Leyen’s secret dealings with Pfizer pharmaceutical company CEO Albert Bourla during the COVID-19 pandemic. But the EC leader shot back, saying this motion was “fueled by conspiracy theorists, from anti-vaxxers to Putin apologists.”
“We should be under no illusion about the threats our democracy faces. We have entered into an age of struggle between democracy and illiberalism. We see the alarming threat from extremist parties who want to polarize our societies with disinformation,” von der Leyen told parliament in a fiery speech.
“There is no proof that they have any answers, but there is ample proof that many are supported by our enemies and by their puppet masters in Russia or elsewhere, and you only have to look at some of the signatories of this motion to understand what I mean,” said von der Leyen, a strong supporter of Ukraine’s defense and sanctions against Moscow.
Her 55-year-old Romanian opponent claimed that von der Leyen’s leadership style was like that of a Communist-era dictator.
“The decision-making process has become opaque and discretionary and raises fears of abuse and corruption,” Piperea said. “I assure you that not a single citizen from Eastern Europe ever wants to relive those times.”
Many international-policy think tanks agree with EU complaints that the Kremlin has interfered in European politics and have led sabotage operations throughout the continent over the past decade.
Last October, the European parliament voted 508-53 (with 104 abstentions) to condemn “Russia’s escalating malicious activities, interference and hybrid operations ahead of Moldovans going to the polls to vote in the country’s presidential election and constitutional referendum on EU integration on 20 October.”
Tensions between Moscow and Brussels have only escalated in recent months as EU members have stepped up defense spending to fill the gap left by Washington’s drop-off in military aid to Ukraine.
If Thursday’s motion were to pass, it would mark the first time in more than ten years that EC parliamentarians voted to censure the president. But, the measure is expected to be defeated decisively by the ample centrist and liberal to progressive-leaning majority.