Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers a scathing critique of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, accusing her of deep-rooted corruption and mismanagement ahead of the July 10 EU Parliament no-confidence vote.

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On the eve of a pivotal no-confidence motion scheduled for July 10, 2025, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban unleashed a forceful denunciation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Speaking on social media platform X, Orbán declared that the corruption allegations against Von der Leyen represent “only the tip of the iceberg” of the serious challenges facing Europe under her leadership.

Orbán framed the upcoming vote as a “day of reckoning,” urging Members of the European Parliament to choose decisively between the “imperial elite of Brussels” and “patriots and common sense.” He emphasized that the crisis transcends corruption, touching on Europe’s competitiveness, energy prices, migration, ideological impositions, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Orban outlined a devastating critique of the Commission’s record:

-European competitiveness “in ruins”

-Energy prices “skyrocketing”

-Illegal migration “out of control”

-Gender ideology “mandatory”

-Ukraine war “a meat grinder”

-Farmers “on the brink”

This comprehensive indictment reflects growing dissatisfaction among EU member states skeptical of Brussels’ centralized policies and ideological agenda.

The no-confidence motion, debated on July 8 and voted on July 10, 2025, targets Von der Leyen and her 26 commissioners. While symbolic,given expectations that Von der Leyen will retain enough support,it signals mounting unrest within the EU over governance, transparency, and policy direction.

In response, Von der Leyen accused Russia sympathizers and extremists of fueling the motion. She characterized the critics as conspiracy theorists, ranging from anti-vaccine activists to supporters of Vladimir Putin, framing the challenge as an attack on the European project itself.

Tomorrow will be a turbulent day in the European Parliament. MEPs will vote on whether Ursula von der Leyen should continue to lead the Brusselian bureaucracy. The vote was scheduled due to the corruption scandals piling up around the President, but we all know that corruption is… pic.twitter.com/YkGpHBkpdG

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 9, 2025

The controversy includes the 2021 revelation of private SMS exchanges between Von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla regarding a €35 billion COVID-19 vaccine contract, dubbed “Pfizergate.” Despite calls for transparency, the European Commission refused to release the messages, prompting a lawsuit by The New York Times in 2023.

Additionally, Belgian lobbyist Frédéric Baldan filed formal complaints against Von der Leyen in 2023, alleging misuse of office, destruction of public documents, and corruption. The case was dismissed by a Liege court in January 2025 after legal debates over Von der Leyen’s immunity.

Orbán’s critique exposes systemic failures within EU institutions dominated by neoliberal and technocratic elites. Von der Leyen’s Commission prioritizes corporate interests and ideological agendas over social justice, environmental sustainability, and democratic accountability.

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