VDL non-confidence vote: PES defends Europe’s values and demands delivery

Socialists and Democrats stood firm: for people, for democracy, for a fairer Europe. Now it's time for the European Commission to prove it stands by its word.

The motion of no confidence against Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, brought forward by far-right forces, was never about improving Europe. It was a political ambush aimed at weakening the European project, undermining institutions, and fuelling polarisation.

Our political family in the European Parliament, made a clear and principled choice: we will not support a campaign led by Orbán, Le Pen or Abascal. But our decision not to support the motion does not mean unconditional trust in the current Commission.

PES President Stefan Löfven said:

"Our group did not vote with the far-right; we voted with the people in mind. Now it's up to the Commission to prove that it will stand by the promises made to Europeans: a fairer, more social, more democratic Union. Iratxe Garcia made this point loud and clear: It's time to go back to the Europe we want, social, sustainable, fair, and pro-democracy."

We also fully share the message of the S&D Group in the European Parliament and its president Iratxe García: rejecting a far-right motion does not equal endorsing the current political direction of the Commission.

We are alarmed by recent signals that flirt with right-wing rhetoric and alliances. President von der Leyen must prove, clearly and unequivocally, that she is still committed to the core values of social justice, sustainability, equality and democracy.

The upcoming State of the Union (SOTEU), scheduled for September, will be a turning point. This annual address by the President of the European Commission to the European Parliament is not just a speech. It is the political moment to outline the EU's priorities for the year ahead and to demonstrate leadership.

In a time of growing social inequality, geopolitical instability and the rise of the far right, we expect more than symbolic gestures.

We expect a clear and renewed commitment to the values outlined in the Platform Cooperation Statement, adopted in 2024 by EPP, S&D and Renew Europe: social justice, territorial cohesion, democratic resilience, the green transition and fair economic growth.

This will be the test of the Commission's credibility and its willingness to truly work with progressive forces for the future of Europe.

Now, we expect the European Commission to fully uphold these priorities, and to deliver concrete results, not just words. We will continue to work to ensure that Europe remains true to its promises.

This is not the end of the conversation.

It is the beginning of a new chapter, one where progressive forces set the agenda, and those in power must follow through.