\u200bStrasbourg, France, Oct 6 (EFE). – European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke in the European Parliament on Monday as she faces two no-confidence votes brought by the left and the far right later in the week.<\/p>
Von der Leyen urged unity in the face of instability and offered dialogue to reassure those with \u201clegitimate concern.\u201d<\/p>
This is the second time in less than three months that Von der Leyen has taken to the floor in Strasbourg to defend herself against a parliamentary attempt to question her leadership and force her team to resign.<\/p>
These attempts once again have little chance of success due to the high level of support they require to succeed.<\/p>
The vote on both motions will be held on Thursday.<\/p>
As she did in July, the European Commission president defended herself against criticism by appealing for unity in the face of external threats.<\/p>
She warned of attempts by \u201cEU adversaries\u201d to sow division and cause harm, with a direct reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin and recent events such as drone incursions into various European countries.<\/p>
\u201cThe point of this unity is not necessarily for all of us to agree on every detail. In fact, tension and debate are an inherent and important part of policy making,\u201d Von der Leyen said in her speech to the European Parliament.<\/p>
\u201cPerhaps more than ever before, it is about the bigger picture, about rallying around the things we do have in common to deliver for the Europeans in this dangerous world, to bolster our security, to protect our democracy, to support our industry, to strengthen our social model,\u201d she added.<\/p>
In the debate in the chamber, the motions were defended by two French MEPs: the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, and the leader of the parliamentary left and MEP for France Unbowed, Manon Aubry.<\/p>
Bardella took advantage of the resignation of French Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu, in calling the European no-confidence vote \u201ca vote against the Europe of Macron, the Europe of von der Leyen,\u201d whom he accused of having led French farmers to their first trade deficit in half a century and of signing Europe’s \u201csurrender\u201d through agreements with the US and Mercosur.<\/p>
Aubry also mentioned both trade agreements and accused Von der Leyen of having accompanied the genocide in Gaza\u201d because of \u201ccowardice and inaction\u201d and for having refused \u201cto stop trade relations with Israel and to introduce an arms embargo.\u201d<\/p>
Thursday’s vote will test the stability of her pro-European majority, which includes the Popular Party, Social Democrats, and Liberals, and is supported from outside by the Greens.<\/p>
Internal tension within the coalition, especially between the European People’s Party and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, has increased since the People’s Party has been able to agree on legislation with its traditional partners on the center-left and, for the first time, with ultra-conservative and far-right groups.<\/p>
This was expressed by the president of the Social Democratic group, Iratxe Garc\u00eda, who rejected \u201ctrivializing\u201d the instrument of the motion of censure but warned Von der Leyen that the EPP cannot tag along with climate change deniers, those who deny gender-based violence, or those who applaud Israel’s actions in Gaza.<\/p>
The leader of the liberal Renew Europe group, Val\u00e9rie Hayer, also confirmed that her group would not vote in favor of censuring Von der Leyen; she warned that \u201csince the first motion of censure last July, we can\u2019t say we\u2019ve really made any progress.\u201d<\/p>
\u201cThe pro-European majority that elected you is malfunctioning,\u201d Hayer added.<\/p>
The leader of the Popular Party, Manfred Weber, the majority partner in that coalition, limited himself to ironically congratulating the two French MEPs for \u201cgetting enough material for their campaign\u201d and supported Von der Leyen in her handling of the crises. EFE<\/p>
lzu\/mcd<\/p>
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