ISTANBUL

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday accused European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen of corruption and called for her resignation, saying she has lost credibility.

In a statement on X ahead of a no-confidence vote against her in the European Parliament on Thursday, Orban said: "Tomorrow will be a turbulent day in the European Parliament. MEPs will vote on whether Ursula von der Leyen should continue to lead the Brusselian bureaucracy."

He argued the vote was triggered by "the corruption scandals piling up around the President, but we all know that corruption is just the tip of the iceberg."

"This is about more than that. It is about competence, results, and the future of Europe," he said.

He said that under von der Leyen’s leadership European competitiveness is “in ruins,” European energy prices have gone “through the roof,” illegal migration is “out of control,” the war in Ukraine is a “meat grinder” and European farmers are “on the brink.”

Orban framed the upcoming vote as a fundamental choice for the continent: "Tomorrow, the moment of truth arrives: on one side, the Brusselian imperial elite, on the other, the patriots and common sense. No dodging, a choice must be made."

"Madam President, leadership is about responsibility. It is time to go!” Orban said, and also shared an image of von der Leyen with the caption: "Time to go."

The vote follows mounting criticism over the European Commission’s vaccine procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bloc’s largest deal was signed with American pharmaceutical company Pfizer, but the full cost of the contracts remains undisclosed, classified as a "commercial secret."

Text messages exchanged between von der Leyen and Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla during negotiations led to suspicions of irregular conduct. Romanian MEP Gheorghe Piperea submitted the no-confidence motion against von der Leyen, citing the so-called “Pfizergate” scandal.

The European Parliament is set to vote on the motion on Thursday.