Overview

• MEPs are set to debate and vote on two motions in Strasbourg during the October 6–9 plenary session, an unusually concentrated test of the Commission chief.
• Politico reports the two motions were filed almost simultaneously around midnight on September 10 ahead of the State of the EU address, a first-of-its-kind occurrence.
• Removing the Commission requires 361 votes, July’s attempt drew 175, and current cross-faction arithmetic cited by media points to at most about 237 votes.
• Critics cite grievances that include a U.S. trade deal associated with a signing in Scotland, the EU budget, the MERCOSUR agreement, the ‘Pfizergate’ vaccine procurement affair, and alleged secret correspondence.
• Former commissioner Thierry Breton told Politico the Commission is seriously weakened, as discontent spans both left and right with unease reported even within von der Leyen’s EPP.