Latest news with #noConfidenceMotion
LBCI
10-07-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
EU chief survives confidence vote by large margin
The European Parliament on Thursday voted down a no-confidence motion against EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, initiated by the far right over her handling of Covid vaccine contracts. Von der Leyen comfortably survived the vote by a wide margin, with 360 MEPs rejecting it and 175 backing the move. AFP
France 24
10-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
EU chief von der Leyen faces no confidence vote
European lawmakers will vote on the rare challenge pushed by a far-right faction against the European Commission president at around midday (1000 GMT) in Strasbourg. Addressing parliament this week, von der Leyen dismissed the no-confidence motion as a conspiracy theory-laden attempt to divide Europe, dismissing its supporters as "anti-vaxxers" and Russian President Vladimir "Putin apologists". She urged lawmakers to renew confidence in her commission arguing it was critical for Europe to show unity in the face of an array of challenges, from US trade talks to Russia's war in Ukraine. The no-confidence motion was initiated by Romanian far-right lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea. He accuses von der Leyen of a lack of transparency over text messages she sent to the head of the Pfizer pharmaceutical giant when negotiating Covid vaccines. The commission's failure to release the messages -- the focus of multiple court cases -- has given weight to critics who accuse its boss of centralised and opaque decision-making. That is also a growing refrain from the commission chief's traditional allies on the left and centre, who have used the vote to air their grievances. Mainstream backing A major complaint is that von der Leyen's centre-right camp has increasingly teamed up with the far-right to further its agenda -- most notably to roll back environmental rules. Centrist leader Valerie Hayer told parliament this week that von der Leyen's commission was "too centralised and sclerotic" before warning that "nothing can be taken for granted". "Pfizergate" aside, Romania's Piperea accuses the commission of interfering in his country's recent presidential election, in which pro-European Nicusor Dan narrowly beat EU critic and nationalist George Simion. That vote came after Romania's constitutional court scrapped an initial ballot over allegations of Russian interference and massive social media promotion of the far-right frontrunner, who was barred from standing again. Piperea's challenge is unlikely to succeed. It has support from some groups on the left and part of the far right -- including the party of Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "Time to go," Orban tweeted on Wednesday alongside a photo of von der Leyen. But Piperea's own group, the ECR, is split. Its largest faction, the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said it would back the EU chief. The two largest groups in parliament, the centre-right EPP and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, have also flatly rejected the challenge, which needs two-thirds of votes cast, representing a majority of all lawmakers to pass.
Japan Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Main opposition CDP decides against no-confidence motion for Ishiba
The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has decided to forgo a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet in the ongoing ordinary session of the parliament, which ends on Sunday. CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda conveyed the decision Thursday to Seiji Maehara, co-head of Nippon Ishin no Kai. The CDP chief said that there should not be a political vacuum amid ongoing tariff negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments. He also mentioned heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Japan Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Upper House election likely to take place July 20
The Upper House election is likely to take place on July 20 as government and ruling coalition officials are not considering extending the current parliamentary session, people familiar with the matter said. The administration of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba thinks that there is no need to extend the parliamentary session beyond the scheduled end date of June 22 after legislation on reforms to the public pension system was enacted Friday. The public offices election law stipulates that a triennial Upper House election be held between 24 days and 30 days after the end of a parliamentary session, meaning that this year's election will likely take place on July 20. Whether the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will submit a no-confidence motion against the Ishiba Cabinet is set to be the main focus in the closing days of the current parliamentary session. Ishiba is not expected to call a snap election for the Lower House unless the CDP files a no-confidence motion. Many CDP lawmakers are taking a cautious stance on submitting a no-confidence motion out of concern over a lack of preparedness for a Lower House election and over a possible backlash against creating a political vacuum. CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda, speaking to reporters on Saturday in a Tokyo suburb, reiterated that he will decide what to do over a no-confidence motion "in a comprehensive and appropriate way and in an appropriate timing." The CDP has been pressing for votes on a bill that would lower the gasoline tax and another that would introduce a selective dual surname system, issues that Ishiba's ruling coalition is reluctant to pursue. This may influence Noda's decision on a no-confidence motion.
Japan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
No-confidence motion against Ishiba Cabinet could lead to double election
With the current parliamentary session set to end in about two weeks, political tugs-of-war within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are intensifying over the question of a snap Lower House election on the same day as next month's scheduled Upper House poll. While CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda has not yet declared whether his party would back a no-confidence motion and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has not publicly stated he will dissolve the Lower House if one is submitted, a double election could result in more political stability if either party manages to capture both chambers, or continued instability if neither holds a majority, even in a coalition. If the opposition parties in the Lower House, which hold a majority, pass a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet, Ishiba and his Cabinet must resign en masse. A new prime minister can be chosen and form a new Cabinet, unless the Lower House is dissolved within 10 days, according to Article 69 of the Constitution. A Lower House election must then be held within 40 days. The current session of parliament is scheduled to finish on June 22. On the other hand, the prime minister could unilaterally dissolve the Lower House to call a snap election at the time of his choice, even before the motion is voted on. Reports last week indicated Ishiba had not ruled out dissolving the lower chamber if a no-confidence motion were to be submitted. On June 5, Nippon Ishin no Kai co-leader Seiji Maehara, who has a good personal relationship with Ishiba, said the prime minister told him privately parliament would be dissolved in that event. Other members of his party are not denying the possibility. LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama told reporters on June 3 he had not discussed this with Ishiba, saying only that the prime minister will make an appropriate decision at the appropriate time. Speaking on Fuji TV on Sunday morning, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who backed Ishiba in last September's LDP presidential election, said the decision to dissolve parliament was one of political life or death for any prime minister. 'So I believe that we have no choice but to respect Prime Minister Ishiba's decision,' Kishida said. Dissolution would be risky for the unpopular LDP. A June 7-8 Asahi News Network poll showed the Ishiba Cabinet support rate at 34.4%, a 6.8 point rise over last month, while 72% of respondents approved of agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi's efforts to bring down rice prices. The LDP might agree to a quick Lower House election in the hope of utilizing Koizumi's popularity to garner voter support. But the same poll showed that 46.4% of respondents did not support the Cabinet. There is no guarantee that voters, regardless of their views on Koizumi, would cast their ballots for other LDP candidates and once again give the party a majority in the Lower House. As the main opposition party, the CDP's backing of a no-confidence motion would be crucial for it to pass. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the smaller Democratic Party for the People, said Sunday he wanted to speak with Noda about the issue before considering the DPP's position. Powerful CDP veteran Ichiro Ozawa strongly supports submitting a no-confidence motion. 'It's only natural that a motion of no confidence should be submitted at the end of the Diet session, and there should be no hesitation in doing so,' he said on his YouTube channel Saturday. The CDP went from 98 to 148 Lower House seats in the October 2024 election, but that's still well short of the 233 minimum needed for a majority. Given the party's struggles to gain traction with voters and a split opposition camp, it, too, faces a political risk by pushing a no-confidence vote, as it's not clear whether the CDP could win an outright majority in a Lower House election or what kind of ruling coalition it could forge if it fell short. Speaking to reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Monday morning, Noda continued to give no indication as to when he'd make a final decision about a no-confidence motion. 'I get this question almost every day, and the answer is always the same: I'll make a decision at the appropriate time, in the appropriate way, and after looking at the overall political situation,' he said.
