Only 7 out of 22 Belgian MEPs back new European Commission
The European Parliament gave Ursula von der Leyen's new European Commission a vote of confidence during a plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday. But her Commission does not enjoy the support of many Belgian MEPs, with only seven out of 22 voting in favour.
Von der Leyen's new Commission is dominated by the Christian Democratic and conservative European People's Party (EPP). The Liberal Renewal, the social democratic S&D and part of the Greens and the conservative and nationalist ECR also approved the Commission.
The new Commission was approved by 370 votes to 282, with 36 abstentions. But Von der Leyen has nowhere near the support she had five years ago, when her Commission was approved by 461 votes, 91 more than on Wednesday.
Of the 22 Belgians in the parliament, just seven MEPs from CD&V, N-VA, Open VLD and the German-speaking CSP supported von der Leyen's team. They cited the need for stability in turbulent geopolitical times and her priorities for defence and European competitiveness as reasons for their approval.
Far-right vice-president
A major point of contention is the vice-presidency of the Italian Raffaele Fitto. He belongs to Fratelli d'Italia, the far-right party of Italian prime minister Georgia Meloni. That is why MEPs from Vooruit, Les Engagés and MR decided to abstain. The PS and Groen voted against the new Commission, also citing the appointment of the "neo-fascist" Fitto as their main reason.
MR's abstention was notable because its own Hadja Lahbib is the new commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management and Equality. But Lahbib says she does not take her colleagues' vote personally. "It's a message to the Commission not to make alliances with the extreme right." She adds that it shows that European democracy is "alive" and "everyone can vote according to their conscience".
"It's a message to the Commission not to make alliances with the extreme right"
MEPs from the PVDA and Vlaams Belang also oppose von der Leyen's new team. The Marxist PVDA accuses the "militarist", right-wing Commission of "blind austerity". The far-right Vlaams Belang, meanwhile, feels that it is not properly represented and that the Commission's line-up is "diametrically opposed to the will of European voters".
PHOTO © FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP
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