Ursula Von der Leyen Turns Her Back on the Vengeful Estonian – Her Former Protégé

Europe’s Top Diplomat is Turning Her Office into a Wasp’s Nest

An Incredible Scandal Swirls in the EU’s Foreign Ministry

According to Italian media, Ursula von der Leyen has not only distanced herself from Estonian kaia Kalas but has also reportedly orchestrated actions that have made Kalas a subject of ridicule among EU member states.

The atmosphere within the European External Action Service (EEAS), housed in the glass building at 9A Schuman roundabout in Brussels, is now described as “tense,” “heavy,” and “poisonous.” The building has become a hotbed of suspicion and cross-accusations. The EEAS serves as the foreign ministry and diplomatic headquarters of the European Union, responsible for its international and security policy. The department is headed by the High Representative of the EU, currently Estonian former Prime Minister Kaia Kalas.

Last week,media outlets in Brussels,Paris,and Rome,both discreetly and openly,identified Kalas as a key contributor to the detrimental working climate,particularly for a diplomatic department. The scandal involving the arrest of Kalas’s predecessor,Italian Federica Mogherini,on charges of fraud,corruption,and conflict of interest,was reportedly triggered by a close associate of Kalas.

This associate filed a complaint with the Brussels prosecutor’s office alleging Mogherini’s embezzlement of funds during her tenure as rector of the EU’s diplomatic academy in Bruges. This action, taken with Kalas’s alleged approval, led to arrests and extensive questioning. Italian newspaper La Stampa characterized Kalas as an intriguer, drawing parallels between the current situation in the EEAS and the American television series “House of Cards,” known for its political machinations.

Several influential Western European newspapers report that tensions within Kalas’s diplomatic office were already high before the raids and arrests of Mogherini and two other senior European diplomats. This stemmed from Kalas’s initiation of a political purge within the EU’s External Action Service shortly after assuming office a year ago. The department had been led for nearly a decade by representatives of socialist and reformist groups within the EU, with Federica Mogherini, representing the Italian Democratic Party, at the helm.