EU, Italians divided in the majority and the opposition over no-confidence in von der Leyen

Brussels – Divisions in the majority, different wavelengths between the main opposition parties. The  censorship motion against the European Commission  produces political repercussions in Italy as well, which will see the different delegations in Brussels expressing positions that are unlikely to remain outside the national debate and dynamics. 

On the government coalition front, Forza Italia and Fratelli d’Italia will vote ‘no’ to the censure, thus expressing full support for the president of the EU executive and her college of commissioners. For the FI delegation, part of the EPP, the vote is a foregone conclusion to defend the group and the European People’s Party and to reaffirm the role of guarantee taken on by Antonio Tajani, now Foreign Minister and secretary of the party, with a long European past. For FdI, the vote aligns with the efforts made by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to establish a privileged relationship in Europe, culminating in the appointment of Raffaele Fitto as executive vice-president. “The Lega has clear ideas and is ready to vote against Ursula Von der Leyen without hesitation,” its deputies announced in a note. 

Of course, upon closer inspection, nothing changes in the internal balance of the majority, as at the beginning of the legislature, the exact same situation occurred at the investiture of the EU executive. There too, votes in favour by Fi and FdI, and against by the Lega. However, tensions are not lacking, most recently those over the highway toll increase, only the latest in a series that has seen the leader of the Lega, Matteo Salvini, ‘replacing’ the head of government in White House talks in an all-personal phone call with US Vice President J.D. Vance.

Problems of convergence and understanding also exist among the 5 Star Movement. If they have already indicated that they will vote favourably on the motion of censure, thereby speaking out against von der Leyen and the EU Commission, the Democrats will choose one of the other two options, namely ‘no’ to the no-confidence or even abstention. The entire Socialist group in the European Parliament (S&D) has still not decided how to express itself, and the Italian delegation is waiting for the outcome of the consultations to dissolve its reservation. One thing is sure: M5S and PD will vote differently. 

The European Greens have made it clear that they have no intention of supporting a motion of censure tabled by the Eurosceptic right, which is why the group will choose the path of abstention or voting against the no-confidence motion. The Green Europe MEPs elected with the AVS list will most likely follow these indications. No direct support from the two Italian Left MEPs, Mimmo Lucano and Ilaria Salis, for von der Leyen and her EU Commission. They could abstain or vote for a no-confidence motion, similar to the one announced by their 5-Star Movement colleagues.