EU head Ursula von der Leyen is worried that anti-globalist “populists and nationalists” are set to triumph in the upcoming EU elections.
As a growing tide of anti-EU sentiment sweeps across Europe, in response to the EU’s open-door immigration policies.
Controversial European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been nominated by her party for a new five-year term as Europe's most powerful politician. The nomination prompted her to launch a fierce attack on opponents of left-wing liberalism. – “Putin's friends are trying to rewrite our history and kidnap our future. They are spreading their hatred behind their keyboards,” von der Leyen stated.
The worst offenders were what Leyen, speaking in the Romanian capital Bucharest, called “populists, nationalists and demagogues of the far right ,” forces that, according to the Commission president, “challenge more than ever a peaceful and united Europe.”
The EU’s unelected head, Ursula von der Leyen, is concerned that anti-globalists, “populists and nationalists” will triumph in the upcoming EU elections, as a growing wave of anti-EU sentiment sweeps across Europe, in response to the EU’s open-door immigration policy, war on farmers and rollout of digital ID/CBDCs, among other things.
Ursula von der Leyen went on to accuse her political opponents of “wanting to trample on our values and destroy our Europe.” Who “ours” and “us” were was not made clear, but the Commission President was clear that this was something she “will never allow to happen” if re-elected .
She herself has received similar criticism
At the same time, von der Leyen and the left-liberal power bloc she represents have long been heavily criticized by increasingly broad groups for precisely what she now accuses her opponents of. Many argue that liberal mass immigration policies in particular are dividing and destroying Europe and threatening democratic values.
During her speech, von der Leyen drew parallels between World War II and the Holocaust and the threat she said looms over Europe today as the “hatred of minorities,” of which her political opponents are accused, gains traction.
“Spreading hate behind their keyboards”
The opponents of the liberal policies of the EPP politicians were also accused by von der Leyen of being Putin's lackeys and the personification of evil. Ordinary EU citizens who make their voices heard online via social media were included by the Commission President among the group of haters.
“Putin's friends are trying to rewrite our history and kidnap our future. They are spreading their hatred behind their keyboards.”
Flirting with critics of mass migration
To counter criticism of the migration policy, von der Leyen promised in her speech to tackle the large-scale “irregular” – that is, illegal – immigration of wealth migrants to Europe.
This is a promise that has been made in the past, but has not been translated into action to a degree that is significantly reflected in human trafficking. Many people also believe that it is not enough to stop the illegal inflow, legal volumes must also be significantly reduced.
Promises more EU tax money for Ukrainian army
Another issue that divides the opinions of EU citizens is the role of billions of euros from the EU budget to arm Ukraine in the war against Russia. In her speech, Ms von der Leyen made it clear that this transfer of money will continue and increase further if she is re-elected.
Also in Bucharest was Poland's new Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, who has worked closely with Ms von der Leyen as an EU official. He has been heavily criticized for what has been described as a brutal political purge of dissenters after coming to power.
Von der Leyen's speech can be viewed in its entirety below.
Tusk: Europe's era of 'blissful calm' now over
Mr Tusk had no comment on this criticism when it was his turn to address the EPP conference in the Romanian capital. Instead, like von der der Leyen, he warned that Europe's post-war era of "blissful calm" is now over. This is not because of their own policies, but because of the opponents the previous speaker singled out.
Poland's new prime minister made it clear that he would not “capitulate to evil.” This was interpreted as preventing “unwelcome forces” from entering the June vote.
Ursula von der Leyen has spent most of her political energy during her current mandate pushing through Europe’s radical climate “green deal”. This has recently backfired in the form of huge farmers’ protests in several EU countries.
It has also given a boost to smaller climate alarmist parties. Several of these parties are also pro-nationalist and more generally opposed to von der Leyen’s left-liberal policies. This has further contributed to parties in the EPP group flirting with anti-immigration rhetoric, as we have seen in Sweden, in order to stem the flow of voters.
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