Monday, the European Parliament debated a motion of censure against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for her resignation, following serious concerns over transparency and accountability in the handling of COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts. Coming Thursday, the European Parliament votes on the motion.
The European Christian Political Party (ECPP) expresses deep concern over the President’s failure to comply with a ruling from the European General Court regarding her undisclosed text message exchange with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. These messages, exchanged during the negotiation of multibillion-euro vaccine contracts, remain unpublished, sparking what has become known as “Pfizergate.”
The motion of censure, signed by 72 Members of the European Parliament, calls for the resignation of President von der Leyen and the entire European Commission.
Valeriu Ghilețchi, ECPP President, stated:
“The General Court has ruled that President von der Leyen was wrong to withhold the contents of her communication with Pfizer. During last year’s Maastricht Debate, I directly asked her whether she would commit to radical transparency in light of this ongoing controversy. Back then, she did not give me an answer. Unfortunately, her refusal to release these messages shows a disregard for transparency and damages the public trust in European institutions.”
ECPP reaffirms that transparency is essential for democratic accountability. The Commission’s reluctance to disclose critical information not only undermines the rule of law but also erodes confidence in the EU’s leadership. ECPP calls on the European Commission to fully comply with the court ruling and publish all relevant communications.
