Thursday, July 10, 2025

๐Ÿ›️ Ursula von der Leyen Survives No-Confidence Vote: A Case Study for UPSC Aspirants

 

๐Ÿ›️ Ursula von der Leyen Survives No-Confidence Vote: A Case Study for UPSC Aspirants

๐Ÿ–‹️ Prepared by: Suryavanshi IAS Mentorship Desk
๐Ÿ“… Date: July 10, 2025


๐Ÿ” Why This Topic Matters for UPSC

The European Union (EU) is a frequent theme in UPSC GS Paper II under International Relations, and UPSC Prelims under Current Affairs. Recent political developments—such as the vote of no confidence against Ursula von der Leyen—offer high relevance for aspirants.

This incident touches on:

  • Democratic structures in supranational organisations.

  • The balance of power within the EU.

  • Rise of far-right politics in Europe.

  • Crisis of leadership in multilateral settings.

  • Allegations of corruption and institutional ethics.


๐Ÿ“œ The Event at a Glance

  • Who? Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

  • What? Survived a no-confidence vote.

  • Where? European Parliament, Strasbourg.

  • Why? Accused of:

    • Secret text exchanges with Pfizer CEO during COVID-19 vaccine deals.

    • Misuse of EU funds.

    • Interference in national elections (Germany, Romania).

  • Vote Result:
    ✅ 360 against the motion
    ❌ 175 in favour
    ⚖️ 18 abstained


๐ŸŒ GS Paper II Links: Key Issues for Mains

SubtopicDiscussion
International OrganizationsFunctioning of the European Commission and its relationship with member states like Hungary.
Democracy and InstitutionsRole of supranational institutions vs. national sovereignty (e.g. Orban's Hungary).
Rise of the Far RightEU's political shift post-2024 elections and implications on liberal order.
Ethics in GovernanceUse of public office during the pandemic and the lack of an effective ethics body.

๐Ÿ“ GS Mains Practice Question (UPSC Style)

Q. Discuss the implications of increasing far-right influence in European Union politics on global democratic institutions. Highlight the significance of institutional accountability in supranational bodies.
๐Ÿ“Œ (250 words, 15 marks)


๐Ÿง  Prelims Practice (PYQ Style)

Q1. With reference to the European Union, consider the following statements:

  1. The European Commission is responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.

  2. The President of the European Commission is directly elected by EU citizens.

  3. EU Parliament can dismiss the Commission through a motion of censure.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only ✅
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

✔️ Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect. The President is nominated by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.


๐Ÿ“š Previous Year UPSC Mains Questions (Relevant Practice)

GS Paper II – International Relations

  • 2020: "What are the challenges to the functioning of multilateral institutions in the current global order?"

  • 2019: "What can India learn from the recent institutional reforms undertaken in the European Union?"

  • 2022: "Examine the impact of regional politics in Europe on India’s economic and diplomatic interests."

GS Paper IV – Ethics

  • “Ethical dilemmas in public service increase during crisis periods like pandemics.” Discuss.


๐Ÿงฉ Key Takeaways for Aspirants (Suryavanshi IAS Strategy)

  1. Integrate Current with Static
    → Link this event with static IR topics like EU Structure, UN Reforms, Supranationalism vs Sovereignty.

  2. Use Case Studies
    → Use this as a case in answers on institutional accountability, democratic erosion, or ethics in governance.

  3. Prelims Boost
    → Prepare international institutions like EU, ASEAN, UN comprehensively—expect at least 1–2 questions every year.

  4. Ethics Linkage
    → Von der Leyen’s alleged misuse of power and absence during voting = example of lack of transparency/accountability.


๐Ÿง  Final Tip: Make a “Current Affairs Ethics Booklet”

Include:

  • Ursula von der Leyen case (2025)

  • COVID vaccine procurement ethics

  • India’s Electoral Bonds debate

  • Cambridge Analytica (2018)

  • Pegasus Spyware Scandal (2021)

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