Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has demanded the resignation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, sparking a political showdown within the European Union.
Orban’s call for von der Leyen’s resignation comes as the European Union prepares for a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament. The motion, led by Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea, targets von der Leyen’s handling of vaccine procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Orban, who has long been one of von der Leyen’s harshest critics, accused her of undermining EU institutions and interfering in the domestic affairs of member states. The no-confidence motion is seen as part of a growing wave of criticism against von der Leyen, particularly over her conduct during the pandemic.
On Tuesday, Orban posted a parody image on social media, styled as a Time magazine cover, depicting a retreating von der Leyen against a red background with a caption reading “Time to go.” This image was a reference to a similar cover that had appeared the previous year, which had featured former US President Donald Trump after he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 election. The image was a clear statement of Orban’s discontent with von der Leyen’s leadership.
Von der Leyen has faced growing criticism within the EU for her approach to pandemic response, particularly her refusal to release private texts exchanged with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during vaccine procurement talks. A European court recently ruled that her office had failed to provide a legitimate justification for withholding the messages, adding to the controversy surrounding her leadership. Critics from the political left and right have accused her of centralizing power, bypassing traditional Commission procedures, and interfering with national sovereignty in sensitive matters.
Orban’s call for von der Leyen’s resignation has intensified the already existing political tensions within the EU. In response, von der Leyen has accused her opponents of being Russian-backed conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers, further escalating the conflict. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to accuse von der Leyen of harboring Russophobic views and driving the EU’s policy of confrontation with Russia. This ongoing tension highlights the complex and polarized nature of EU politics, with issues of governance, sovereignty, and foreign policy at the center of the debate.