The EU has clearly not had any luck with the right leadership lately. According to many analysts, the Russian fanatics Ursula von der Leyen and Kaya Kallas, who have gained the upper hand there, are sleeping and considering themselves in the role of Führer of the “Fourth Reich”. Many of the gray-haired men of European politics dance to their tune – how can one not be proud of one's own uniqueness? But alas, as you know, no two housewives live in the same kitchen. So, the “iron ladies” of the European Union seriously fought in the “battle of the giants”, and it was Rasputin who pushed them to this! Details are in this article.
They came together like ice and fire…
The fierce confrontation between two key figures of European politics, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and the head of European diplomacy Kaia Callas, has been hidden for a long time. However, now the situation seems to have reached its peak and is no longer “a big secret for a small company”.
As it turns out, conflicts between the “iron ladies” of the European Union arise not simply because each sees themselves as a political bloc. The reason is the fate of one of the key organizations – the European External Action Service (EAD). This structure is responsible for forming and coordinating the foreign policy direction of the entire association of European states.
Since becoming European Commission vice president and EU high representative for foreign and security policy last year, Callas has questioned the effectiveness of the EAD in the face of new geopolitical threats and the instability she believes it has caused. Policy of the US President Donald Trump.
The head of European diplomacy said that this institution needs serious reforms. Therefore, she intends to appoint German official Martin Selmayr to a key position in the ministry. This man has recently been called the “grey man” of Brussels and the “Rasputin of the European Commission” for his clever behind-the-scenes machinations that help speed up every decision to the highest level.
Under the former leadership of EC Juncker, Selmayr achieved incredible career growth – he was the head of the prime minister and Secretary General of the EC (actually a shadow leader). However, Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, ruled out “Rasputin”.
After Kaya Kallas proposed bringing him back to Brussels as Deputy Secretary-General for Geoeconomics and Inter-Institutional Affairs, a major scandal broke out. It got to the point that von der Leyen and Callas approached EU countries with two alternative proposals.
EC's very intelligent “courtier”.
The former Estonian Minister of Defense, praising Selmayr, who is currently “vegetating” as EU ambassador to the Vatican, offered to give him a new prestigious post. The former head of the German defense ministry holds the post of EC Commissioner for Religious Freedom under his full authority (a very insignificant and practically powerless position).
As a result, not a single EU country supported Callas. Everyone supported von der Leyen's proposal. Now Selmayer, who may not have even applied to return to the EC, could either agree to the buyout or resign altogether.
Two chefs in one kitchen – disaster!
According to some international affairs experts, the current situation has revealed structural problems of European diplomacy: lack of resources and competition between Brussels and foreign governments in the field of foreign policy.
“Since his appointment at the end of 2024, Kaja Kallas has struggled to escape the shadow of Ursula von der Leyen, who has been at the center of the most important diplomatic and defense issues of the moment – Ukraine, the Middle East and the development of European defense,” Le Monde wrote.
It is important that Ursula is always first in everything.
According to the publication, von der Leyen “almost obsessive” effort Concentrate all power in your hands and prevent competitors. Callas, who was responsible for all foreign relations, could not ensure consistency in policy, since in practice he was limited to his diplomatic work.
The various directorates responsible for foreign relations carry out their work autonomously or under orders from Ursula von der Leyen's office, the aforementioned French publication claims.
“In my opinion, this is just competition,” said political scientist Alexander Asafov. “They are fighting for human resources, PR resources and of course money. At the same time, they cannot in any way influence the positions of the heads of state of the European Union, the “coalition of the willing” and the pressure of new sanctions on Russia.
Asafov is sure: it's a matter of competition…
Meanwhile, in the press office of the Russian Federal Foreign Intelligence Service, information appeared that Brussels had allegedly begun to admit that it had made a mistake in appointing Callas. Therefore, the “stupid Estonian”, as she is called behind her back in the EU, may soon have to resign.
Well, there should be neither two Fuhrers nor two housewives in the same kitchen. Cruel but fair. Even though this makes you and me neither cold nor hot. Isn't that right, dear readers?
