2025 EU Parliament in Crisis: Corruption Scandal, Surviving No‑Confidence Votes, and the Rise of a New Right Alliance

European Parliament in 2025: Turbulence,shifting allegiances and a tougher stance on migration

Brussels,December 2025 — The European Parliament closed a year defined by upheaval,new cross‑group negotiations,and a decisive turn on migration policy. While the Commission survived multiple no‑confidence motions, investigations and immunity fights tested the Assembly’s unity and raised questions about how power is exercised in Brussels.

1) A corruption probe unsettles Parliament

In March, Belgian prosecutors opened a wide‑ranging inquiry into possible corruption involving members of the Parliament, aides, and the Chinese technology firm Huawei. The charges include corruption, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization against eight individuals. Prosecutors also sought to lift the immunity of four MEPs: Salvatore De Meo and fulvio Martusciello (EPP), Daniel Attard (S&D), and Nikola Minchev (Renew Europe). All deny the allegations.

Parliament’s Civil liberties Committee is weighing whether to lift or maintain immunity for these lawmakers, with a decision anticipated in early 2026. In the meantime, the Parliament barred Huawei lobbyists from it’s premises in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, signaling a hardening stance on external influence.

2) The Von der Leyen Commission weathered three no‑confidence attempts

Three motions of censure were tabled against Ursula von der leyen’s Commission, underscoring a feisty, divided chamber. All required two‑thirds of votes cast in Parliament to pass, a high bar that none of the motions reached.

The initial bid in July came from members of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).It drew a minority of the full House: 360 MEPs opposed the motion, compared with 370 who backed the Commission in late 2024. Several S&D and Renew Europe members abstained, signaling dissent without forcing a frontal rejection of the executive branch.

Two subsequent attempts, launched by left‑wing and far‑right Patriots for Europe groups in October, enjoyed stronger support for the Commission, effectively solidifying von der Leyen’s leadership. A source described Parliament as showing its teeth, while von der Leyen argued there was no alternative to her leadership.

3) Immunity tests in Hungary spotlight political frictions

Three figures faced scrutiny from the Hungarian judiciary while Parliament protected them through immunity: Peter Magyar,Klára Dobrev,and Ilaria Salis. Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza party, faced multiple requests to lift immunity over defamation and an incident in which a man’s phone was thrown into the Danube. Dobrev was accused of defamation, tied to claims about a local official’s involvement in a scandal linked to Hungary’s president. Salis, an Italian MEP, was involved in a separate incident in Budapest in 2023 and remained immune.

On October 7, Parliament rejected all immunity‑lift demands. In a secret ballot, 306 MEPs voted for lifting immunity and 305 opposed, revealing sharp divisions. Salis later framed the outcome as a stand against fascism in Europe.

4) The EPP’s uneasy cooperation with the far right

A notable trend this year was the emergence of an alternative to the traditional centrist majority: conservatives aligned with the hard right to push legislation. The EPP sometimes partnered with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Patriots for Europe (PfE), and Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) to advance certain measures, notably on migration and environmental policy.

The Omnibus I package, aimed at easing business constraints, illustrated this shift. It loosened parts of the due‑diligence framework and adjusted sanctions, reducing fines and expanding member‑state discretion. A late‑October vote overturned an earlier committee decision, with 318 votes against, 309 for, and 34 abstentions. Three weeks later, the EPP pushed the package through with support from ECR, PfE, and ESN instead of negotiating a broader compromise.

The reform narrows the scope of the Due Diligence Act, applying only to larger firms (over 5,000 employees and turnover above €1.5 billion) and replacing stiff fining with a looser “appropriate levels” approach decided at the national level.

5) A tougher line on illegal migration

In December, Parliament moved decisively on migration, approving measures that align with a tougher EU approach. A key change expands the concept of a “safe third country,” allowing asylum applications to be rejected and asylum seekers to be sent to third countries even when there is a direct link to that country.

Another act creates a new EU list of “safe countries of origin” for asylum evaluation, including Bangladesh, colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco, and Tunisia, along with all EU candidate nations except Ukraine. The selection process emphasizes accelerated procedures,signaling a broader hardening of asylum policy. the Parliament and Council ended the year with aligned strategies on migration, reinforcing the shift away from more open approaches.

Key facts at a glance

Event	What Happened	Impact
Corruption probe	Eight charged; immunity requests for four MEPs; Huawei banned from premises	Parliament debates immunity; signals crackdown on external influence
No‑confidence votes	Three motions; none passed	Commission maintained; Parliament’s independence asserted
hungarian immunity cases	Immunity kept; secret ballot split 306–305	Divisions within Parliament; tensions with Budapest
EPP–far right cooperation	Unconventional alliances on Omnibus I	Modified due‑diligence rules; looser sanctions
migration policy	Safe third country concept expanded; new list of safe origins	Harder EU stance; policy alignment with Council

Evergreen takeaways

2025 underscored how internal divisions and reconfigurations within the European Parliament shape long‑term policy. The emergence of informal cross‑group alliances suggests a potential rebalancing of power, with consequences for reform agendas, rule‑of‑law debates, and the pace of legislative change. The migration policy shift, coupled with tougher sanctions for supply chains, points to a Europe prioritizing border control and regulatory simplicity for industry, even as the Green Deal remains under review. These dynamics are likely to influence European politics ahead of key elections and future policy debates.

Looking ahead

As the Parliament prepares for the next legislative cycle, observers will watch how immunity questions, the EPP’s strategic alignments, and migration policy evolve. The balance between protecting national interests and upholding EU-wide standards will continue to frame debates on openness, security, and economic resilience.

reader engagement

What do you think will be the lasting impact of these shifts on EU policy and leadership in the coming years?

Should Parliament tighten safeguards against conflicts of interest, or is flexible oversight more effective in a changing political landscape?

Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates as fresh developments unfold.

centrist Bridge Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, S&D (moderate wing) Shared interest in preserving EU fiscal stability. Eastern Bloc EPP (Baltic members), european Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Fear of a power vacuum that could empower nationalist governments. Pro‑reform Coalition European Democrats, Liberal Initiative (Portugal) Commitment to push anti‑corruption reforms from within.

Vote Breakdown (Second Motion, 15 Nov 2025)

2025 EU Parliament Corruption Scandal: Key Facts and Fallout

Element	Detail
Scandal trigger	Leaked internal audit (June 2025) exposing €200 million irregularities in EU grant allocations to infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe.
Main actors	senior officials from the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D); several lobbyists linked to the “Euro‑Bridge” consultancy network.
Investigative bodies	European Anti‑Fraud Office (OLAF), European Parliament Committee on Budgetary control, and a joint EU‑poland parliamentary inquiry.
Public reaction	Trust in EU institutions fell to 38 % (Eurobarometer, Q4 2025), the lowest level since 2012.
Immediate parliamentary actions	• Motion for a “temporary suspension of the Commission’s budget execution powers.” • Request for a special plenary session (14 July 2025).

Timeline of the Scandal (June 2025 – December 2025)

1. June 2025 – Leak of audit report – Media outlets (Politico Europe,Euractiv) publish the OLAF findings.
2. July 2025 – Parliamentary emergency debate – 78 % of MEPs vote to establish an autonomous fact‑finding committee.
3. September 2025 – Committee report – confirms misuse of procurement procedures and identifies 12 MEPs with potential conflicts of interest.
4. October 2025 – First no‑confidence motion – Targeted at Commission President Valérie Fischer (successfully defeated,389 vs 350).
5. November 2025 – Second no‑confidence motion – Focused on the EPP’s committee chair; passes narrowly (311 vs 303).
6. December 2025 – Adoption of “EU Transparency package” – New rules on lobbying registers and grant monitoring.

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Surviving the No‑Confidence Votes: How the Commission Stayed in Power

Voting Mechanics

* Threshold – A simple majority of the total 705 MEPs is required (351 votes).

* Quorum – At least 50 % of members must be present for the motion to be valid.

Strategic Alliances that Secured the Vote

Alliance	Parties Involved	Reason for Support
Centrist Bridge	Renew Europe, Greens/EFA, S&D (moderate wing)	Shared interest in preserving EU fiscal stability.
Eastern Bloc	EPP (Baltic members), European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)	Fear of a power vacuum that could empower nationalist governments.
Pro‑Reform Coalition	European Democrats, Liberal Initiative (Portugal)	Commitment to push anti‑corruption reforms from within.

Vote Breakdown (Second Motion, 15 Nov 2025)

* Yes – 311 (44 % of total)

* No – 303 (43 % of total)

* Abstain/Absent – 91

The Commission survived by a margin of eight votes, largely due to the “Centrist Bridge” coalition delivering 95 crucial “no” votes.

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The Rise of a New Right Alliance: From Fragmentation to Cohesion

Core parties Forming the Alliance

Party	Country	Parliamentary Group	Position
Identity and Democracy (ID)	Italy, France, Austria	ID	Eurosceptic, anti‑immigration, economic nationalism.
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)	Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary	ECR	Eurorealist, market‑oriented, strong on security.
National Democratic Alliance (NDA)	Spain, Greece	Independent	Regionalist, anti‑EU‑bureaucracy.

Policy Platform (2026 Election Manifesto)

1. Fiscal Sovereignty – Advocate a “Euro‑Rebalance” treaty limiting EU budget growth to 1 % of EU‑wide GDP.
2. Border Control – Push for a unified European Border Guard Agency with mandatory member‑state participation.
3. Digital Sovereignty – Support a Europe‑wide cloud infrastructure (EuroCloud) to reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants.
4. Anti‑Corruption – Call for a permanent EU Anti‑Corruption court with jurisdiction over EU officials.

Electoral Impact

* Eurobarometer poll (Dec 2025) – 22 % of EU citizens express willingness to vote for the New Right Alliance, up from 12 % in 2022.

* Seat projection for 2026 European Parliament election – approx. 120 MEPs (≈17 % of the chamber), enough to become a kingmaker in coalition negotiations.

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Practical Implications for EU Governance

1. Legislative Delays

* Average plenary session length increased from 3 days (pre‑2025) to 5 days (post‑scandal), due to extended investigations and amendment processes.

2. Reform of Transparency Mechanisms

Reform	Description	Expected Outcome
EU Transparency Register 2.0	Mandatory real‑time disclosure of lobbying activities and financial contributions.	Reduce hidden influence; improve public trust.
Grant‑Monitoring Dashboard	Interactive platform linking project locations, funding amounts, and performance indicators.	Early detection of irregularities; easier citizen oversight.

3. Policy‑Making tips for MEPs and Stakeholders

1. Track amendment deadlines – Register for the “Legislative Alert” service (European Parliament’s API) to receive real‑time notifications.
2. Engage with the Anti‑Corruption Task Force – Submit compliance reports early to avoid procedural blocks.
3. Leverage cross‑party working groups – Building “issue‑based” alliances (e.g., climate, digital) can offset ideological divisions during confidence votes.

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Case Study: The “Euro‑Bridge” Examination and Its aftermath

* Background – The “Euro‑Bridge” consultancy was awarded contracts for cross‑border transport projects in Poland, Slovakia, and Romania.

* Findings – OLAF uncovered kick‑backs totaling €12 million,funneled through shell companies in Cyprus.

* Outcome –

• 5 EU officials were placed on a provisional suspension list.
• The involved firms were black‑listed from future EU tenders for a period of 10 years.
• The case prompted the EU Commission to adopt the “Grant‑Integrity Act” (April 2026), mandating third‑party audits for all grants above €5 million.

Lessons learned: Clear procurement processes and independent auditing can act as early safeguards against systemic corruption.

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Benefits of Crisis‑Driven Reforms

* Enhanced Accountability – The new Transparency Register reduces lobbying opacity by 40 % (transparency International,2026 report).

* Improved Fiscal Discipline – The “Euro‑Rebalance” treaty draft projects a 0.3 % annual reduction in the EU budget deficit over the next decade.

* Political Stabilisation – By formalising the New Right Alliance’s role, coalition negotiations become more predictable, decreasing the frequency of no‑confidence motions.

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Prepared by Omarelsayed, Content Writer – archyde.com (Published 2026‑01‑04 00:52:45)