Overview

• She defeated the motion by 360 votes to 175, with 18 abstentions from a total of 553 ballots cast.
• Absences and abstentions among MEPs from Renew, the Socialists and Democrats and Greens/EFA revealed lingering unease over her leadership style and transparency.
• Her Commission agreed to preserve the European Social Fund in the upcoming long-term budget to secure centre-left backing.
• Only 72 signatures are needed to lodge a censure motion, a low threshold that critics warn will encourage further challenges.
• This vote signals a tougher parliamentary environment and marks the true political start of von der Leyen’s second term.