Fianna Fáil MEPs set to vote against von der Leyen over support of Israel

'Under President von der Leyen’s watch, the European Union is no longer seen as an honest broker in the Middle East peace process,' says Billy Kelleher

Ursula von der Leyen faces a vote in the European Parliament to confirm her nomination for another term as president on Thursday. Picture: Alessandro Della Valle/AP

Fianna Fáil MEPs are set to vote against Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission president this week, with one saying that he believes that her support of Israel has stopped the EU from being "an honest broker" in the Middle East.

Ms von der Leyen faces a vote in the European Parliament on Thurday to confirm her nomination by EU governments for another term as president, in a ballot that is expected to be close. 

Between her own European People's Party, Fianna Fáil's Renew Europe group, and the Socialists and Democrats group, there are in theory 401 votes for Ms von der Leyen, who needs 361.

She cannot count on blanket support from any of those groups.

The Fianna Fáil contingent  has long been making known their opposition to a second term for Ms von der Leyen, who has come under increasing scrutiny since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher said he could not vote for Ms von der Leyen, despite engagements from both herself and "colleagues in Fianna Fáil, who I trust and respect".

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said he would engage with Fianna Fáil MEPs on the vote, amid concerns that Ireland's opposition to Ms von der Leyen could cost the country's European Commission nominee — former Finance Minister Michael McGrath — a key role. 

That argument was echoed this week by Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly, who said that not voting for Ms von der Leyen was "irresponsible".

Mr Kelleher was insistent throughout the campaign that if he was elected, he would not vote for Ms von der Leyen. On Monday, he said that he will not be changing his mind.

Since my election to the European Parliament in 2019, I have consistently raised the issue of illegal annexations of Palestinian lands by Israel

"At no point have we seen the European Commission, led by president von der Leyen, do anything other than wring their hands. This, to me, is not acceptable and it must not be allowed to continue.

“I do not believe that doing a U-turn on my public commitments is good for politics or indeed good for the public perception of politics in our country. Citizens need to trust what their elected representatives say. On June 7, I was given a mandate based on my public statements regarding president von der Leyen’s actions. I will be holding true to those statements."

Mr Kelleher added: “Under President von der Leyen’s watch, the European Union is no longer seen as an honest broker in the Middle East peace process.”

On Sunday, Fianna Fáil's Barry Andrews said that he would vote against Ms von der Leyen. He said that the issue of Gaza was "far more important" than the allocation of European Commission roles.

It is understood that neither Barry Cowen nor Cynthia Ní Mhurchú have changed their previous opposition to Ms von der Leyen.