The delegation of the FREE VOTERS had refused to support Ursula von der Leyen in her election as Commission President and did not vote for her.
Engin Eroglu, head of the FREE VOTERS delegation:
“The call for a credible, transparent, and citizen-oriented Europe is not a cliché but the standard for our political actions. Those who do not meet this standard cannot count on our support – not even in the highest office of the European Commission.”
The FREE VOTERS had already denied Ursula von der Leyen their approval in 2019 during her first election as Commission President – for substantive reasons. In 2024, the FREE VOTERS again did not vote for her re-candidacy because they consider the political direction of the European Commission under her leadership to be wrong – especially regarding centralism, excessive bureaucracy, and economic mismanagement.
The current developments surrounding the Pfizergate scandal confirm this critical stance. Specifically, it concerns the disappearance of key SMS messages between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla – in the midst of multi-billion-euro negotiations on vaccine procurement. According to a ruling by the European Court, the Commission was unable to provide a plausible explanation for the absence of these messages.
Joachim Streit, MEP of the FREE VOTERS:
“When billion-euro contracts are negotiated via SMS and the relevant messages simply go missing, that is not an oversight but a structural failure of accountability. The Commission must not disregard its own transparency rules. The handling of this affair is not only shameful – it is damaging to democracy.”
Christine Singer, MEP of the FREE VOTERS from Bavaria, adds:
“Reliability and genuine transparency are the cornerstones of citizens’ trust in the EU. Especially on sensitive issues such as vaccine procurement, the Commission must be able to explain its decisions transparently and comprehensibly – regardless of one’s personal stance on the measures.”
The FREE VOTERS will not support the no-confidence motion from the extreme right, as it would not only affect von der Leyen alone but would require all other Commissioners to resign with her.
The FREE VOTERS therefore demand:
Beyond the scandal, the FREIE WÄHLER also criticize the overall political record of the Commission President. From the delegation's perspective, excessive bureaucracy, growing centralism, and economic policy missteps jeopardize both the credibility of the EU and its acceptance in the regions.
Engin Eroglu concluding:
„Our abstention is not a sign of leniency, but an expression of political independence. We refuse to be drawn into party-political games that do not share our values. Europe does not need an ivory tower in Brussels, but a strong foundation in the regions – transparent, accountable, and close to the people. That is what we FREIE WÄHLER stand for.“
