EU chief von der Leyen survives confidence vote by large margin

But censure motion over Covid-19 vaccine contracts exposes cracks within her camp

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BRUSSELS — EU chief Ursula von der Leyen comfortably saw off a no-confidence vote on July 10 in the European Parliament, but the rare challenge has exposed frictions between her backers and complaints about her leadership.

Lawmakers in Strasbourg rejected the censure motion launched by the far right over the European Commission president's handling of Covid-19 vaccine contracts — by 360 to 175 in a widely expected result.

“In a moment of global volatility and unpredictability, the EU needs strength, vision, and the capacity to act,” Dr von der Leyen, who was not at Parliament for the vote, wrote on social media platform X after the vote.

“As external forces seek to destabilize and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe.”