The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her annual message on the situation in the European Union on September 13 in Strasbourg.
Photo: REUTERS
The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her annual message on the situation in the European Union on September 13 in Strasbourg. In her flowery speech, which journalists call “pre-election,” the official spoke a lot about the successes and future of the bloc. Among other things, she announced preparations for the enlargement of the European Union to Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. However, no timelines or specific details were announced and we were talking about preliminary work.
Not everyone was inspired by the hour-long speech about the future of Europe. European Commissioner Ylva Johansson opted to knit pink socks during her leader’s speech, apparently preparing for a harsh winter. This episode was noticed by the radical French politician, head of the Patriots party, Florian Philippot, who was outraged on his social networks: “Ursula von der Leyen’s speech was so boring that one of her commissioners chose to knit while she she spoke! And these well-paid people decide our destiny! Incredible.”
The head of the European bureau of the Chinese newspaper China Daily, Chen Weihua, spoke out even more radically after the results of the speech, calling the head of the EC an “American poodle” and a “pathetic and hypocritical leader.” Reacting to the European Commission’s decision to oppose the import of Chinese electric cars, he wrote on social media: “When the European Union is governed by an American poodle like von der Leyen, it is one disaster after another for the EU. . The European economy is contracting sharply compared to the American economy under his leadership,” before adding: “The speech is so boring that von der Leyen resorted to criticizing China to get attention and please his father.” Joe (Biden)”. The Beijing official also commented on the European Commission head’s speech, accusing the European Union of “blatantly protectionist behavior.”
Although Ursula von der Leyen has not yet officially announced her plans to run for a second term, Europeans have no doubt that her speech was the beginning of her election campaign. Let us remember that the German has held the position of head of the European Commission since 2019 and she can retain the presidency for another 5 years. POLITICO previously wrote that her very likely re-election in the summer of 2024 looks more like a coronation than a democratic procedure.
