European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has successfully navigated two attempts to remove her from office, as the European Parliament decisively rejected no-confidence motions initiated by both hard-right and left-wing political groups. The votes took place on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
In a clear show of support, a significant portion of the 720-member Parliament voted against the censure motions. The first vote saw 378 lawmakers express confidence in President von der Leyen and her team of commissioners, with the second vote garnering even greater support at 383 votes.
These outcomes represent a slightly stronger endorsement for the EU’s top executive compared to a similar challenge in July, where 360 lawmakers had voted against a motion primarily pushed by far-right members. However, it’s worth noting that her current support is marginally lower than the 401 votes she secured during her re-election as Commission President in July 2024.
While these no-confidence motions were unlikely to achieve the stringent two-thirds majority needed to oust her, some parliamentary members believed they served a crucial purpose. They aimed to highlight underlying concerns about her leadership and potentially disrupt the EU assembly, which is essential for passing critical legislation.