The 5 tribes giving von der Leyen the biggest headaches
As the European Commission president faces the second set of no-confidence votes in three months, groups of people with very different views from each other are giving her angst. Some even want to bring her down.
By MAX GRIERAin Strasbourg, France
Illustration by Natália Delgado/POLITICO
It’s never a good idea to fight a war on several fronts. But Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president since 2019, has no alternative: Danger lurks around every corner.
From the trenches of her Berlaymont Brussels HQ, she must see them off ― all of them, for different reasons at different times ― if she’s going to survive politically. It’s not just about the European Parliament’s no-confidence motions that confront her this week, it’s about those who threaten her more subtly. They’re the ones who feel betrayed, they’re the friends turned foes, they’re those whose high standards she never had a hope of meeting, and maybe never intended to.
Most of these tribes don’t get on with each other ― and that helps her. The enemy is still divided.
But trying to work out where the flak is coming from is a confusing task. Here’s the POLITICO guide.
The let-down nature lovers
Environmentalists and climate campaigners have been among the most disappointed in von der Leyen since the start of her second term in December.
While the last European Commission, from 2019-2024, made the Green Deal ― with policies aimed at cutting emissions, improving biodiversity and transitioning to renewable energy ― a flagship initiative as it rode the wave of popular protests and a surge in support for green parties, the focus since last year’s European election has shifted markedly.
Now, it’s all about slashing red tape and pouring billions of euros into industry to try to put rocket boosters under Europe’s anemic economy. In other words, some pretty un-green stuff.
That pivot has sparked concern among Green Deal die-hards, who warn that recent legislative proposals, which the Commission calls “omnibus” packages, risk unraveling the previous term’s environmental and climate gains. The Commission appears increasingly hesitant to propose or implement green legislation.
In June it floated the possibility of withdrawing the anti-greenwashing directive, unleashing a massive backlash from those nostalgic for the Green Deal. In September it announced plans to delay enforcement of the deforestation regulation, citing IT implementation issues ― a claim challenged by Green Deal loyalists within the Commission, including Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera.
Why they give von der Leyen a headache: While the environmental lobby’s influence plummeted after the 2024 election, von der Leyen still needs them to pass some legislation. Also, the big protests and political stunts they organize with their wide activist network get noticed.
The type of thing they say out loud: “We thought Ribera would have more influence and manage to save the Green Deal, but von der Leyen is actually just destroying the EU’s green agenda.”
What they really think: “We actually love von der Leyen because she’s one of the last people within the EPP who actually cares about climate policy.”
What they would definitely NEVER say: “You know what, von der Leyen should really take that private jet from Brussels to Luxembourg more often.”
Headache rating: 1/5
The haters
Coming from outside the political mainstream ― but increasing in numbers ― these people see it as a sport to challenge von der Leyen’s every move. In fact, that’s often one of the pillars of their political campaigns.
The European Parliament is made up of more lawmakers from the far right and far left than ever before. The two no-confidence votes von der Leyen faces this week were brought by groups at both those extremes.
Around the continent, an increasing number of anti-European forces either hold power or are vocal in opposition. Whereas before Brexit, nearly all the Euroskeptic saber-rattling came from British politicians lobbying for the U.K. to leave the bloc because they saw it as undemocratic, expensive and elitist, now von der Leyen has those sorts of refrains ringing in her ears almost constantly.
Whether these politicians are campaigning in elections or trying to fuel their popularity by using anti-EU rhetoric, this tribe knows that making a noise is half the battle.
What’s more, the way they’ve mastered social media as a means to reach people and bang the drum is light years ahead of the PR tools at von der Leyen’s disposal.
Why they give von der Leyen a headache: While the haters rarely have enough seats in the European Parliament to block her ideas, meaning she doesn’t have to count on them to pass laws, they dominate the narrative, make big headlines, and inject chaos into every debate. For every 300-page regulation the Commission rolls out, they counter with a 10-second viral clip that undoes the message and travels at least 10 times faster. They also know that when the Commission president does harness their support on more right-wing matters, her mainstream allies scream.
The type of thing they say out loud: “Von der Leyen is the devil incarnate and her Commission just makes people’s lives worse.”
What they really think: “Long live Ursula! If she didn’t exist we would have to invent her.”
What they would definitely NEVER say: “We’ve just read the Commission’s latest proposal in full and would like to listen quietly to what von der Leyen says about it before coming to a sober assessment.”
Headache rating: 2/5
The back-stabbers
Do not fear your enemies, fear the friends who stab you in the back.
Von der Leyen is at the very top of the center-right European People’s Party, the biggest political family with members from the EU’s 27 countries.
While party chair Manfred Weber, a German like von der Leyen, is an expert in smoothing over the understandable discord that comes from being a broad church, some fundamental issues keep the party divided. Internal clashes sometimes put the party as a whole, or sections of it, at odds with the Commission president.
To some extent, von der Leyen needs to put herself on a collision course with her own side because she has to balance the competing interests of her Commission, which includes commissioners from across the political spectrum.
When she announced tougher measures in September against Israel, including EU sanctions on some ministers and the suspension of bilateral ties, Germans within the EPP lashed out at her.
Now her party is revolting against two of her landmark legislative files, her plans for the EU’s next seven-year budget and her 2040 climate neutrality target, threatening to nuke them.
“Sometimes her actions are hard to stomach,” said an EPP official, who didn’t want to be identified as criticizing their leader.
An EPP member of the Parliament said von der Leyen faced “growing opposition” among the national delegations within her party.
Not only does internal division make for an unhappy ship, it has real consequences for what she can deliver.
Why they give von der Leyen a headache: The EPP is the kingmaker in the Parliament. Nothing goes through without their OK, which means she needs the backing of the full party to implement her program.
The type of thing they say out loud: “Ursula von der Leyen is the leader of a united EPP.”
What they really think: “We have this huge opportunity to do whatever the heck we want by playing the lefties off against the far right. And she is still pandering to those losers?!.”
What they would definitely NEVER say: “The socialists are the second-biggest political force in Europe so we should definitely hear them out.”
Headache rating: 5/5
The Euro-purists
This tribe accuses von der Leyen of weakening the EU and its institutions.
Europhiles are mortified at von der Leyen for, as they see it, humiliating Europe by accepting higher tariffs on EU goods in a trade deal with the U.S. following threats by President Donald Trump. Similarly, some accuse her of selling out European farmers by pushing to adopt the Mercosur trade deal with South American countries.
This group includes people who accuse her of centralizing power within the Commission, giving herself too much control, not abiding by high transparency standards ― such as by deleting her text messages ― and running what some see as a dysfunctional communications service.
The proud Parliament geeks, a subtribe within this tribe, blame von der Leyen for neglecting the role of the EU’s directly elected institution in agenda-setting and policymaking.
They are especially angry at the Commission for using a fast-track procedure to sideline the Parliament from decision-making. The prime example of this was a €150 billion fund created give EU countries loans for defense spending.
Why they give von der Leyen a headache: Europhiles can be very loud and can haunt the Brussels bubble with social media threads and angry press statements.
The type of thing they say out loud: “The EU is not just a market — it’s a values-based community. We need to tell the Commission that. Again.”
What they really think: “Ursula’s undermining the EU — but maybe let’s not press too hard, she might still give us a job.”
What they would definitely NEVER say: “Deleting messages? Well, that’s just modern tech hygiene.”
Headache rating: 3/5
The puppet masters
The EU as a supranational political entity has gained unprecedented powers in the last two decades, with the Commission president heading a government that legislates for over 420 million citizens.
But those with the real power to set the agenda, and those who put von der Leyen in office, are still the heads of government of the 27 member states. Just like it always was.
Until recently it was just the leaders of Hungary and Slovakia making a name for themselves by criticizing the Commission. But that group is growing, and even those who could once have been relied upon to be supportive ― such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the EPP ― have joined in the slang-fest.
The U.S. trade deal this summer, most notably, saw a string of leaders crying foul over what they called a weak agreement. Von der Leyen’s push for what some see as an ambitious 2040 climate neutrality target has also been met with resistance. And last week, some leaders criticized her proposal to build a “drone wall” to battle Russian incursions.
Why they give von der Leyen a headache: They put her there. They can remove her just as fast.
The type of thing they say out loud: “We’re not concerned about European Parliament no-confidence votes. We’re the ones in charge.”
What they really think: “She does what we ask of her, but it’s great to have a punching bag in Brussels to blame when things backfire back home.”
What they would definitely NEVER say: “I think she might be more powerful than all these guys at this table.” (Which is what Donald Trump actually did say during an August meeting with von der Leyen and some of the EU’s national leaders.)
Headache rating: 3/5
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