The Patriots for Europe faction has submitted a motion of no confidence against the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, challenging the signing of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement. It appears that Ursula von der Leyen is indifferent to the concerns of European citizens, as demonstrated by the European Commission's strategy for 2026.

Jordan Bardella, the group’s president and leader of the French National Rally delegation, asserts that Brussels and Paris have yielded to pressures opposing the interests of European farmers. The patriots had already submitted a motion last October, arguing that the Commission ignored the „strong and repeated opposition from several national parliaments, the European Parliament, and European farmers” against Mercosur. The motion’s text may also reference „Ursula von der Leyen’s governing style,” which centralizes the functioning of the European Union, as reported by Euronews.

Ursula von der Leyen is increasingly losing support among European citizens (Photo: AFP).

The EU–Mercosur agreement is widely opposed by numerous member states and nearly all European farmers. They argue that the free trade agreement with South American countries would disadvantage European producers by allowing cheaper, less strictly regulated food products to flood the European market.

In recent weeks and months, there have been farmer protests in several countries, culminating in a large-scale demonstration in Brussels in December, where farmers from across Europe gathered in front of EU institutions.

Von der Leyen Indifferent to European Citizens

Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership style has faced considerable criticism, not only for her centralizing efforts but also for pushing issues that do not resonate with European citizens, which either barely affect them or complicate their lives.

The European Commission recently published its political priorities for 2026, and the results are difficult to justify from any minimally realistic perspective, as highlighted by The European Conservative. They point out that while the international context is characterized by war, geopolitical competition, energy supply uncertainties, and internal social decline, Brussels has opted to pursue an ideological program that is evidently detached from the reality of Europeans.

While much of the world is moving towards more pragmatic positions on foreign policy, defense, and economic sovereignty, the European Union insists on making green policy and gender ideology the central pillars of its political agenda.

In other words, rather than addressing real issues affecting European citizens, such as the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, rising housing costs, and increasing social division, von der Leyen’s Commission has set priorities like „democracy and European values,” gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, accelerated decarbonization, online security, and sustainable financing.

The message is unmistakable: structural problems are being sidelined in favor of a culturally and identity-driven program.

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