The Left called for his resignation last October when reports emerged of the alleged Hungarian spy ring operating in Brussels. The Commission is investigating, and Várhelyi has strongly denied any knowledge of the claims. The Commission told reporters last month it had “made progress” in its inquiry, but did not give a timeline to inform the Parliament of its conclusions.
The Socialists and Democrats group did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Even if MEPs adopt the report, the Parliament’s rebuke of Várhelyi may amount to little more than a public slap on the wrist.
MEP Daniel Freund told POLITICO he was “confident” the motion criticizing Várhelyi would pass in the plenary. | Martin Bertrand/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
People like a doer
Várhelyi is not without his admirers in the Parliament, even if that support is at times begrudging. There is little appetite in the centrist Renew group, for example, to go after the pro-industry health commissioner’s job, according to two officials affiliated with the group, both granted anonymity to discuss the matter freely with POLITICO.
“The broad sense within Renew is that he performed well overall, and that this is, in any case, not the right moment” to force him out of office, one said. Another said it was a “fact that there has been some issues with Várhelyi” and expressed support for the reprimand, but agreed he had done “good things on health” and shouldn’t lose his job.
The center-right European People’s Party is also generally aligned with Várhelyi on his pro-business agenda. “The EPP Group opposes the misuse of the discharge vote in the European Parliament as a tool for political activism,” a spokesperson for the group said. “Such politicization risks setting a dangerous precedent.”