World
Von der Leyen emerged ‘strengthened’ from motions of censure — for now
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After the high noon vote in Strasbourg on Thursday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emerged not weakened but strengthened from the latest motions of censure in the European Parliament — and, crucially for the German politician, her centrist coalition has held firm.
A total of 378 and 383 MEPs backed her Commission against two separate motions of censure tabled by the far-right and far-left groups.
The show of hands represents not only more support than in the previous no-confidence vote in July, but also higher than the 370 votes that confirmed her college of commissioners at the start of this legislature in November 2024.
The results suggest that the so-called centrist majority — along with most MEPs from the Greens/EFA and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) groups — rallied behind the von der Leyen Commission II in the face of accusations of trade policy, power-grabbing, and a lack of transparency.
The tone was set by the Greens/EFA co-chair Bas Eickhout.
“If we are looking now at the situation in the world, sending away the European Commission is not a smart thing to do,” Eickhout told Euronews.
“We have problems, we have discussions, we are not happy with this simplification agenda … but that is not a reason to send off the entire European Commission”, the Dutch lawmaker explained.
Three motions of censure in three months
The reality is that, for many different reasons, MEPs have not given Ursula a break for quite some time, but von der Leyen has acted differently since MEPs challenged her Commission back in July.
Since then, the German lawmaker has acted on the Israel-Hamas war, appealed to those in the centre during her yearly State of the Union address, and is currently discussing the 2026 Commission’s work programme with the European Parliament, experts have noted.
“My feeling was that lots of MEPs from the centre thought to themselves, okay, let’s wait and let’s give her the chance to walk the talk,” Sophia Russack, research fellow at the Brussels-based think tank CEPS, told Euronews.
“It wouldn’t be strategic for us now to punish her if she’s kind of at least indicating that she’s going in the right direction.”
Over the last months alone, the European Commission chief has faced three motions of censure, legal action for sidelining MEPs over the €150 billion defence loans scheme, as well as criticism from several corners over the Mercosur and the EU-US trade agreements.
Most of the opposition has come from The Left and the far-right group Patriots for Europe — and neither shows any sign of backing down.
“We are not giving up,” MEP Manon Aubry, leader of The Left group, told Euronews, despite her motion receiving only 133 votes in favour — far short of the threshold needed to topple the Commission.
The Patriots for Europe (PfE), whose own motion of censure secured the backing of 179 MEPs, also appears unwilling to throw in the towel.
“This is a process, (the motion) was a way to put pressure on von der Leyen and to show her weak points. We will continue this strategy until she understands that she cannot continue”, Portuguese MEP António Tanger Corrêa (PfE) told Euronews, foreseeing “more votes of confidence to come”.
CEPS’ Russack noted that the far-right group never expected the European Commission to actually step down.
“They knew that this is the majority that they couldn’t reach, but what the far-right is most concerned about is undermining the institutions and undermining their legitimacy,” Russack argued.
More battles to come?
Yet, the German Christian Democrat has reached a point where she is facing criticism from within her own ranks.
The next major battle in Parliament is expected to centre on the Commission’s proposal for the EU’s long-term budget for 2028–2034 — a €2 trillion plan known in Brussels jargon as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
In a very controversial move, the EU executive proposed in July merging agricultural and regional funds into a single pot to be managed by national governments.
Since then, member states have criticised the size and design of the ambitious proposal, and MEPs have blatantly opposed this decision.
“Right now, the debate within the (EPP) group is very heated,” Italian MEP Salvador de Meo (EPP), said during an interview with Euronews in Strasbourg.
The EPP fears that merging the EU’s two most significant budget funds into a single pot could lead to misuse of money, underfunding for companies and citizens who rely on them, and a diminished role for the regions.
“It is a mistake to backtrack on (the Common Agricultural Policy) that has been a real tool for European integration, enabling millions of farmers to modernise their businesses and play a leading role in the fight against climate change,” de Meo said.
“It would be a step backwards,” the Italian MEP added.
The group leaders of the budget and agriculture committees in the European Parliament, together with the European Commissioners for Agriculture and Budget — Christophe Hansen and Piotr Serafin, both from the same political family — are currently discussing potential solutions and are expected to decide on next steps in the coming days.
According to two EPP officials consulted by Euronews, several scenarios are on the table: the complete withdrawal of the Commission’s proposal, amendments introduced by MEPs to reshape the current plan, or a commitment from the Commission to revise some aspects at a later stage.
Von der Leyen may have survived two motions of censure, but her battles with Parliament are far from over — from negotiations on the next long-term budget and climate targets to shrinking majorities and heated debates over Europe’s defence ambitions.
World
Anyma Says He’s ‘Truly Devastated and Deeply Sorry’ Following Canceled Coachella Set: ‘I’m Working on a Solution’
Electronic musician Anyma is speaking out after his Coachella set was canceled due to severe weather condititions early Saturday morning.
“I’m heartbroken,” the DJ, whose real name is Matteo Milleri, wrote in a statement shared to his X account Saturday evening. “I don’t have many words other than to say I’m truly devastated and deeply sorry to everyone who showed up to the main stage, and to those watching the livestream at home. Having the opportunity to perform the new ÆDEN show and share all the new music and art means more to me than I can express. It’s incredibly painful, especially after working day and night for the past year, not just me, but my team and the @coachella crew, who poured everything into this.”
The statement continued: “Safety was and always will be our biggest concern. The dangerous winds not only prevented us and Coachella from building our stage, but also made it impossible for my entire live setup and performance to operate safely.”
While he noted there are no other slots available for him to perform during Coachella weekend 1, Milleri wrote that he is “working on a solution to bring you some music at least,” but doesn’t want to “impose on the other artists’ slots.” “Updates soon,” he concluded.
Anyma was set to perform following Sabrina Carpenter’s headlining set on Day 1 of the festival, but the weather made it unfeasible. Attendees were notified at 12:17 a.m. of this “schedule update” with a statement posted online and sent as a push notification via the Coachella app.
“Due to strong wind conditions affecting Anyma’s stage build, he is unable to perform,” the statement read. “Coachella & Anyma have made this decision together with your safety as the priority. Further updates to come.”
Winds had gusted as high as 35-40 mph in Indio during the day Friday, and there were reports of tents being toppled in the campground area at Coachella. Weather reports for the area on Sunday, the closing day of the festival, show winds predicted at 10-20 mph, although the possibility for gusts again exists.
Even if Anyma is shut out of appearing at Coachella this weekend, he is still on the agenda for the same slot during weekend 2, this coming Friday night.
Anyma first gained popularity as one-half of the EDM duo Tale of Us.
World
Pope Leo calls out ‘delusion of omnipotence’ fueling Iran war in vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica
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Pope Leo in a Saturday vigil for peace, called out the “delusion of omnipotence” he claimed is fueling war.
“In prayer, our limited human possibilities are joined to the infinite possibilities of God. Thoughts, words and deeds then break the demonic cycle of evil and are placed at the service of the Kingdom of God,” he said in a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica.
He continued, “A Kingdom in which there is no sword, no drone, no vengeance, no trivialization of evil, no unjust profit, but only dignity, understanding and forgiveness. It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
In posts on X and during the prayer vigil, the pontiff also warned that war “divides” while hope and faith unite humanity.
TRUMP’S LAST-MINUTE DELAY: WHY HE WAS NEVER GOING TO OBLITERATE IRAN IN THE FIRST PLACE
Pope Leo XIV leads a vigil for peace inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday. (Gregorio Borgia/AP Photo)
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money. Enough of the display of power. Enough of war,” he wrote. “True strength is shown in serving life.”
The archbishop of Tehran, Belgian Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, was among those in the pews.
Leo’s words came on the same day Vice President JD Vance and a U.S. delegation began face-to-face talks with Iran amid an uneasy ceasefire.
MIKE PENCE WARNS JD VANCE TO AVOID OBAMA-STYLE IRAN DEAL AS NUCLEAR TALKS SET TO BEGIN IN PAKISTAN
They were some of the first American pontiff’s strongest words yet after he called President Donald Trump’s threat against Iran on Tuesday “truly unacceptable.”
“Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable,” the pope said earlier this week. “There are certainly issues of international law here, but even more so a moral issue for the good of the whole entire population.”
Pope Leo XIV speaks to the media on the U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran, as he leaves the papal residence to head back to the Vatican, April 7, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)
Trump had written on Truth Social “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will… God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
Hours later, the president announced a two-week ceasefire subject to Iran agreeing to “the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz,” the president wrote in another post.
As the high-stakes talks began on Saturday in Islamabad, Trump told reporters outside the White House: “We win regardless of what happens. Maybe they make a deal, maybe they don’t.”
Islamabad hosted peace talks between Iran and the U.S. on Saturday. (Farooq Naeem/AFP via Getty Images)
For more than a month, the pope limited his remarks to muted appeals for peace, but in his Easter blessing last Sunday, he urged “those with weapons lay them down. Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.”
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Leo also invoked what he said were the final words that Pope Francis issued to the world from the same balcony one year ago, during which the late pontiff warned of a “globalization of indifference.”
“What a great thirst for death, for killing we witness each day in the many conflicts raging in different parts of the world,” Leo said, quoting Francis.
Fox News’ Jasmine Baehr and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
World
‘Enough of war!’ says Pope Leo XIV who grows increasingly frustrated
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Pope Leo XIV did not hold back on Saturday as he denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that is powering the US-Israel war on Iran and urges political leaders to stop and engage in peace processes. All while, the US and Iran entered peace negotiations in Pakistan.
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During an evening prayer in St. Peter’s Basilica Pope Leo XIV did not mention the US nor did he mention US President Donald Trump, however, his tone and message appeared directed at US officials and Trump, who have bragged of their military superiority and justified the war using religion.
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money!” Leo said. “Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”
The US Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) announced on 3 March 2026 that it had received more than 200 complaints from military personnel from various branches of the armed forces – including the Marines, Air Force and Space Force – accusing their commanders of using extremist Christian rhetoric to justify war against Iran.
Among those in the basilica was the archbishop of Tehran, Dominique Joseph Mathieu. The United States was represented by Laura Hochla, the deputy chief of mission, the US Embassy said.
US-born Pope Leo XIV had initially been reluctant about openly criticising the war, however, he stepped up his criticism starting on Palm Sunday. Earlier this week, he condemned Trump’s threats to annihilate Iranian civilisation calling them “truly unacceptable” and pushed for dialogue to be prioritised.
On Saturday, the pontiff called for all people of good will to pray for peace and demand an end to war from their political leaders.
Praying for peace, Pope Leo XIV said, was a way to “break the demonic cycle of evil” to build instead the Kingdom of God where there are no swords, drones or “unjust profit.”
“It is here that we find a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive,” he said. “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Leaders have used religion to defend their actions in the war. US officials, especially Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, have spoken about their Christian faith and described the United States as a Christian nation fighting its enemies.
Leo has said that God does not support any war, especially wars where bombs are dropped.
The Vatican is especially worried about Israel’s war with Hezbollah which is spreading into Lebanon, where Christian communities in the south are already suffering.
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