FIDESZ MEP Warns of New Von der Leyen Text Message Scandal

The European Ombudsman has launched an official investigation into another dubious exchange of messages by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Based on reports, the investigation aims to uncover how Von der Leyen and her team handled a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron in which the French head of state requested that the Mercosur agreement be blocked.

The reason for the investigation is that the Commission was unable to produce the messages: they claim that they were automatically deleted due to the “disappearing messages” feature of the Signal app and were not filed as official documents. This means that there is no official record of a consultation that could potentially influence an EU decision.

This case is yet another example of how the von der Leyen Commission embodies a lack of transparency. What we need in European institutions is genuine transparency, not secret consultations and deleted messages,”

emphasized Kinga Gál, Fidesz MEP.

The scandal is particularly reminiscent of the earlier so-called Pfizergate affair, when messages exchanged between Von der Leyen and Pfizer’s CEO about vaccine purchases were also “lost.”

According to János Bóka, Minister for European Union Affairs, the case goes far beyond Von der Leyen’s personal responsibility: “This is no longer just Von der Leyen’s personal problem. This is a crisis for the entire Brussels leadership. Europe does not need secret negotiations and ‘lost’ messages, but responsible leaders.”

Several motions of no confidence have been brought against the Commission President in the past, primarily due to a lack of transparency. The latest scandal only reinforces criticism that Europe’s leadership operates in the shadow of secret messages and scandals.

Via MTI; Featured photo: European Parliament / Alexis HAULOT

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