Jean-Claude Juncker, the new president of the European Commission, has escaped a censure motion against him.
The motion described Juncker as unfit to lead the EU executive because he presided over huge tax avoidance schemes for hundreds of multinational firms during his 18 years as prime minister of Luxembourg.
It has been brought by Britain’s Ukip, France’s Front National, and Italy’s 5 Star movement in the parliament, all parties to the right of centre.
Censure was easily defeated by 461 votes, with 101 voting in favour and 88 abstaining. It was carried largely by the majority centrist parties. The two biggest groups – the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats – as well as the Liberals, supported Juncker.
“Eurosceptics voted down. Full trust in Team Juncker,” tweeted Manfred Weber, leader of the Christian Democrats in the parliament.
The episode saw cooperation among politicians from the far right despite deep-seated unwillingness to work together.
The far left in the parliament is also opposed to Juncker’s presidency, but it could not garner 10% of MEPs to bring its own motion and it refused to vote with the far right.
Juncker began his tenure as president at the beginning of November but only three days later the media began broadcasting the full scope of the Luxembourg tax schemes.
Juncker dropped out of sight for a week, then ordered the drafting of new regulations on the exchange of information among EU countries on corporate tax arrangements, a topic which he promptly added to his legislative agenda.
At least the media exposure seems to have given him a good idea.
