Absentee leadership in Strasbourg raises questions about priorities
After a long summer recess, debates on Ukraine and Gaza resumed in the European Parliament on Tuesday (9 September) — but took place in a chamber that was almost empty, with most political group leaders and senior figures absent.
War in Ukraine, Empty Seats in Strasbourg
The session followed Russia’s largest aerial assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion. Kyiv alone was struck by some 800 drones on Sunday, while Russian Security Council chair Dmitry Medvedev issued fresh threats against Finland.
“Putin has zero interest in peace, and he will not stop the war until he’s forced to,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, addressing rows of vacant seats. She underlined that the EU and its member states have provided nearly €169 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022, including funding for its defence industry through profits from frozen Russian assets.
Enlargement commissioner Marta Kos also took the floor, framing Ukraine’s EU path as existential: “Ukraine’s path to accession is a matter of survival, of sovereignty, and of long-term security,” she said.
But the optics of the near-empty chamber suggested waning attention from lawmakers. With no group leaders or vice-presidents present, the debate was left to lesser-known MEPs.
Gaza Debate, Same Pattern
A subsequent debate on Gaza saw a similar lack of senior attendance, despite Israel’s renewed assault on Gaza City, widespread famine, and international charges of genocide. The absence of political leadership reinforced concerns that such sessions risk being treated as procedural rather than substantive moments of European policymaking.
Chronic Problem, Political Signal
Empty parliamentary debates are not new in Strasbourg, and internal efforts have long sought to improve attendance. Still, the timing struck many observers as symbolic, casting doubt on how seriously MEPs treat two of Europe’s most pressing crises.
At a press conference the same day, centre-right EPP chief Manfred Weber argued that “a new reality is emerging in Russia’s fight against Ukraine” and cautioned against using the term “genocide” for Gaza. He urged Parliament to “open the doors and windows” to wider European concerns — pointing out that nearly 90,000 jobs had been lost in the car industry over the past year.