Time To Go

The no confidence motion was brought forward by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea

( Credit: Viktor Oban)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has openly called for the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sharing a satirical image online just days before a no confidence vote in the European Parliament. The vote, scheduled for Thursday, focuses primarily on her handling of vaccine procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday, Orban posted an image designed to look like a Time magazine cover, showing von der Leyen walking away against a stark red background, with the caption “time to go.” The design echoed a previous cover from 2024 featuring Joe Biden after he announced his withdrawal from the US presidential race.

Orban has frequently criticised von der Leyen throughout her term, accusing her of damaging EU institutions and meddling in the internal affairs of member states. Hungary has repeatedly found itself at odds with Brussels over rule-of-law issues, sanctions policy and other political disagreements, with Orban claiming that EU leadership has attempted to sideline Hungary within the bloc.

Von der Leyen has faced mounting criticism from across the political spectrum, with particular focus on her conduct during the pandemic. Her refusal to release private text messages exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during vaccine deal negotiations has drawn sustained controversy. A European court ruled earlier this year that her office had failed to offer a proper explanation for withholding the messages.

Opponents have accused her of centralising authority, circumventing standard Commission procedures, and weakening the role of the European Parliament. Critics from both left and right, as well as Eurosceptic members, say she has overridden national sovereignty in several key areas.

The no confidence motion was brought forward by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, who argued that von der Leyen had repeatedly overstepped her institutional role. For the motion to succeed, it must be supported by two-thirds of voting MEPs and backed by an absolute majority of the Parliament’s 720 members, a result most analysts consider unlikely.

In response to the growing backlash, von der Leyen has accused her detractors of spreading conspiracy theories and advancing Russian interests. During a plenary session this week, she claimed some of her critics were acting on instructions from “puppet masters in Russia.”

The Kremlin has long regarded von der Leyen as a hostile figure, with Russian officials accusing her of fuelling tensions in Europe. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier this year referred to her as “Führer Ursula,” blaming her for pushing the EU towards militarisation and failing to account for financial decisions made during the pandemic.

Her support for Ukraine and advocacy of harsh sanctions against Russia have made her a key target for criticism from Moscow, which sees her as one of the principal architects of the EU’s confrontational stance.

Global GeoPolitics

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