The European Parliament rejected a motion of censure against Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, January 22, initiated by the far right over disputes surrounding the Mercosur agreement. The motion garnered only 165 votes in favor against 390 against. The French government firmly opposes any provisional application of the treaty, calling it a 'democratic violation'.
The European Parliament overwhelmingly dismissed a motion of censure against Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on Thursday, January 22. Filed by the far-right Patriots for Europe group, this initiative criticizes the trade agreement with Mercosur countries—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—signed the previous Saturday in Paraguay after over 25 years of negotiations. The agreement eliminates customs duties on more than 90% of bilateral trade.
The motion received 165 votes in favor, 390 against, and ten abstentions, far short of the required two-thirds majority among the 720 MEPs. This marks the fourth motion of censure that Ms. von der Leyen, from the right, has escaped. This time, she had the support of French right-wing MEPs, unlike in October when they backed a similar attempt led by Jordan Bardella.
The backdrop involves a referral filed on Wednesday, January 21, to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), narrowly supported by 334 votes to 324. This referral, initiated by 150 MEPs from various sides opposed to the agreement, was welcomed by thousands of farmers protesting outside the Parliament in Strasbourg. 'The real censure of Mercosur was voted yesterday thanks to the referral to the CJEU,' MEP François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP) told AFP. He added: 'Now, our fight is won,' deeming the motion 'de facto obsolete'.
The CJEU must verify the agreement's compliance with EU treaties, potentially delaying its ratification by the Parliament by one and a half years. Before that, the Commission can apply the treaty provisionally, but the decision remains undecided. Brussels expressed its 'deep disappointment' after the close vote.
In France, the government opposes any provisional application. Spokesperson Maud Bregeon called it a 'form of democratic violation' on Europe 1-CNews, warning of 'profoundly deleterious' consequences for people's ties to the EU. 'The Commission President does not embody the European Union,' she stated, emphasizing the roles of MEPs and heads of state. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard described it as a 'betrayal of the vote, a democratic denial,' urging to await the CJEU's opinion during a meeting with farmers in Créances (Manche).
The Commission and most EU states back the agreement, especially amid Donald Trump's threats of new tariffs against Europe.
