European Union lawmakers are set to hold a confidence vote on Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the bloc’s powerful executive arm, on Thursday, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán leads calls for her removal.
The censure motion, the first of its kind in the European Parliament for over a decade, was initiated by a coalition of far-right lawmakers.
For it to succeed, a two-thirds majority vote in favour is required.
While a loss could force Ms von der Leyen to resign, she is widely expected to prevail, with the majority of political groups in the assembly having indicated their intention to vote against the motion.
She is not anticipated to be present for the vote in Strasbourg, France.
The motion encompasses a range of accusations against the European Commission president, including allegations of private text messaging with the chief executive of Covid-19 vaccine manufacturer Pfizer, the alleged misuse of EU funds, and claims of interference in elections held in Germany and Romania.
Mr Orbán said on Facebook that the vote “will be the moment of truth: on one side the imperial elite in Brussels, on the other patriots and common sense. There is no getting out of it, it is essential to make a choice.”
He posted: “Madam President, the essence of leadership is responsibility. Time to go!”
Ms von der Leyen's commission has frequently clashed with Mr Orbán over his staunchly nationalist government's moves to roll back democracy. The commission has frozen Hungary's access to billions of euros in EU funds.
The vote has been a lightning rod for criticism of Ms von der Leyen — who led the EU drive to find vaccines for around 450 million citizens during the pandemic — and her European People’s Party, which is the largest political family in the assembly.
They are accused of cosying up to the far right to push through their agenda. The EU parliament shifted perceptibly to the political right after Europe-wide elections a year ago.
The second-biggest group, the Socialists and Democrats, has said that the censure motion was a result “of the EPP’s irresponsibility and the double games”.
During debate on Monday, S&D leader Iratxe García Pérez said to the EPP: “Who do you want to govern with? Do you want to govern with those that want to destroy Europe, or those of us who fight every day to build it?”
The EPP has notably worked with the far right to fix the agenda for hearing Ms von der Leyen’s new commissioners when they were questioned for their suitability for their posts in 2024, and to reject an ethics body meant to combat corruption.
Macron makes Brexit swipe during state banquet speech
Rescuers search for missing crew from Red Sea attack as US alleges Yemen rebels may have them
Hundreds of migrants moved from Crete to Greek mainland as island struggles with Libya arrivals
Italy opens Ukraine rebuilding conference as doubts of US defense help remain
Ukraine war latest: Trump warned Putin he will bomb Moscow if Ukraine is attacked
European court finds Russia responsible for human rights abuses during Ukraine war
