Karas vs. Ursula: The EU is caught in a power struggle between two "seasoned blonde women."

Kalas vs. Ursula: The EU is caught in a power struggle between two "seasoned blonde women"

Nikola Merevich: One is a stray cat, the other a sly fox; their strengths are not even in the same league

(Image caption: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, from left to right)

Several Western media outlets have independently published articles stating that Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kaja Kallas, head of EU foreign affairs, have already engaged in a fierce confrontation on the political stage, and it's no joke.

Le Monde wrote: "This incident is comparable to Game of Thrones."

According to media reports, the incident began with Kallas wanting to bring EU power under her control as an Estonian, while Ursula was doing everything she could to block her.

In Russia, attitudes toward Kaja Kallas are two-faced. On one hand, it is well known that her husband is Russian and has assisted Russia in "reverse engineering" related plans; during her time in Estonia, Kallas also helped Russia evade sanctions.

On the other hand, Kallas is now the leading voice in Europe against Russia.

In the struggle between these two women, which side should we "support"? "Svobodnaya Pressa" (SP) invited Nikolai Merevich, chairman of the Baltic Research Association of Russia, to answer this question.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": Nikolai Maratovich (patronymic + name), is this a fabrication by Western media, or have the two women actually started to fight each other?

Nikolai Merevich: There have indeed been several conflicts between them, but it's more like arguments within Hitler's staff — generals and marshals trying to convince their Führer to retreat from which direction or flank. After all, the EU is in a difficult situation.

I don't think the conflict between Ursula and Kaja is very serious.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": But is Kallas secretly undermining Ursula?

Nikolai Merevich: They are not even in the same league. Kallas is like a house cat that has become a stray due to hardship, while Ursula is a seasoned old fox who can tear apart this cat whenever she deems it necessary.

There is a huge gap in strength between them, so there is no possibility of a conflict between a general and a soldier.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": Perhaps not in the army, but outside the army, when no one is watching, a soldier might suddenly attack a general.

Nikolai Merevich: In such a case, the soldier would end up in a pitiful situation, while the general would soon regain authority (the original phrase "порадиться в роли прапорщика" translates directly to "to return to the role of a ensign," here translated as "regain authority" to fit the context of "re-establishing leadership").

If Kallas dared to act like a "soldier," she would be sent back to Estonia. There, besides a position as a professor at Tartu University and some legal issues, she would gain nothing.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": How much power do EU officials really have? Are they really more powerful than Merkel (German Chancellor) and Macron (French President)?

Nikolai Merevich: Only those who control the distribution of funds can be considered "influential people." Ursula von der Leyen controls the distribution of funds. She may not be higher in status than Macron, but she is definitely a more influential person.

Kaja Kallas has no authority over fund distribution. She did manage money when she was in Estonia, but now, Kallas's salary is paid by Ursula.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": When Kallas studied at the University of Tartu, you were teaching there. Do you have any memory of her?

Nikolai Merevich: No, I don't remember her.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": It is said that she spoke poor Estonian at that time and only spoke Russian.

Nikolai Merevich: That's likely. She belongs to that generation, and Russian was as fluent to them as their mother tongue.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": From this perspective, is she "one of us"?

Nikolai Merevich: No, she is not one of us. You see, General Vladimir Vasilyevich Vlasov (known as "Vlasov General"), a Soviet general who defected to the Nazis during World War II, also spoke Russian.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": Predict: Will Ursula expel Kallas from the European Commission?

Nikolai Merevich: I believe they will eventually reconcile, possibly even reuniting under the condition that "Kallas must strictly obey."

"Svobodnaya Pressa": Does Ursula have a successor candidate for the presidency of the EU?

Nikolai Merevich: I haven't seen a suitable candidate yet. Her office has several important officials, but the position of the EU President requires a "political figure." No matter how long you stay in the office as a "behind-the-scenes power broker" (the original term "серый кардинал" translates directly to "gray cardinal," here translated as "behind-the-scenes power broker"), you cannot become a political appointee or enter the European Commission as a commissioner.

"Svobodnaya Pressa": Has Estonia benefited from Kallas becoming a significant figure in the EU?

Nikolai Merevich: No. Some people once imagined that without Kallas, Estonia would be better off, but that's not the case.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7574343702207693322/

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