Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was in a feisty mood ahead of a no-confidence vote in European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slated for July 10.
“Tomorrow will be a turbulent day in the European Parliament. MEPs will vote on whether Ursula von der Leyen should continue to lead the Brusselian bureaucracy,” Orban said in a social media post. “The vote was scheduled due to the corruption scandals piling up around the President, but we all know that corruption is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Von der Leyen is facing a crisis of confidence amongst her conservative allies in the European People's Party (EPP) faction. She has been accused of ignoring Parliament as she increasingly concentrates power in her own hands, and that of a tight group of councillors, ignoring protocol and making autonomous decisions. She is still refusing to release details of text messages in the “Pfizergate” scandal, when she held secret negotiations to acquire supplies of anti-coronavirus vaccines that cost the EU billions of euros.
She has also been accused of making “deals of convenience” with far-right MEPs and backtracking on Europe’s commitment to the Green Deal to reduce emissions, Politico reports.
“This is about more than that. It is about competence, results, and the future of Europe,” Orban said in his post, going on to list his objections to von der Leyen.
Here is the balance sheet of the Commission under Mrs. von der Leyen’s leadership:
- European competitiveness: in ruins
- European energy prices: through the roof
- Illegal migration: out of control
- Gender ideology: mandatory
- War in Ukraine: meat grinder
- European farmers: on the brink
- Mindless green ideology: at its peak
“Tomorrow, the moment of truth arrives: on one side, the Brusselian imperial elite; on the other, the patriots and common sense. No dodging, a choice must be made,” Orban said. “Madam President, leadership is about responsibility. It is time to go!”