[Text/Observer Network Liu Chenghui]
"Von der Leyen is toxic," Swiss German media Die Weltwoche said on April 26.
This media reported on April 26, citing sources, that whether in diplomacy or domestic policy, senior EU officials have become increasingly aware of the "toxicity" of Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. She lacks political and diplomatic talent, and people hope she will resign. EU officials believe that her resignation could resolve many issues within the EU, including its ongoing confrontation with China.
The report said that the EU's foreign policy is clearly in crisis, and Von der Leyen is becoming a target of criticism. On the west side, the EU is embroiled in a trade dispute with the United States; on the east side, the Ukraine conflict drags on unresolved, with escalating tensions between the EU and Russia, and sanctions themselves are a form of trade war.
Meanwhile, the EU continues to engage in a disheartening power struggle with China.
If external policies are already in such a predicament, internal contradictions are even more alarming. The report pointed out that divisions among EU member states are deepening, continuously suppressing Hungary, which insists on sovereignty and democratic participation rights. Italian Prime Minister Meloni has distanced herself from the anti-Trump camp and is now seeking closer ties with the White House.
"As the saying goes, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beams will be too. The crux of the EU lies in 'upper beam' Von der Leyen." The report wrote that when Trump proposed an agreement, Von der Leyen would inevitably reject it. In the Ukrainian peace process, the EU is cutting off its own arm.
On April 26, in Rome, Italy, during the funeral of Pope Francis, EU Commission President Von der Leyen met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Visual China.
This dilemma was actually foreseen: Von der Leyen once publicly intervened in the U.S. election, firmly aligning with the Biden camp, and this act of political overreach has had lasting consequences, indicating that Von der Leyen lacks both diplomatic skills and the demeanor of governance.
The economic aspect is also far from optimistic: the self-reinforced anti-Trump stance does nothing to resolve trade disputes. More alarmingly, the EU's "democratic" mechanism is continuously weakening, and EU diplomats even openly threatened to deprive Hungary of its voting rights.
People will not forget Von der Leyen's behind-the-scenes operations during the pandemic: secret communications, refusal to disclose behind-the-scenes deals. These actions have eroded the transparency of the EU.
In short, the EU is in a regrettable dire situation. If in a normal national system, the suitability of the leadership would certainly trigger public discussion. Although the EU is not a traditional nation-state, the diplomatic circle has begun to circulate important signals: more and more high-ranking EU officials consider Von der Leyen as a "toxic" presence, and her resignation might resolve many deadlocks.
The report concluded that a change in the EU leadership could at least bring new opportunities to European politics, allowing it to regain a diversified and open posture in its relations with the East and West.
Von der Leyen was re-elected as President of the European Commission last July.
Long before Trump took office, Hong Kong English-language media South China Morning Post once wrote in an article that what worried EU officials was that they were unsure who Trump would want to deal with, and Von der Leyen was one of the first to be excluded. Because Von der Leyen is considered a famous "hawk" on China, she has established close ties with the Biden team over the past four years, and multiple sources questioned whether she could get along well with Trump.
When Trump was eager to achieve peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Von der Leyen led the EU to increase aid to Ukraine, effectively going against the White House.
US media analysis suggests that the EU economy is in trouble and stagnating, and it needs no further disputes with its two largest trading partners. Now, a problem confronts the EU: Can it handle a "cold trade war" with China while being caught up in a "hot trade war" with the US?
On April 1, Von der Leyen made tough remarks on tariff policies to the US, vowing to retaliate strongly against US "reciprocal tariffs," including targeting large American tech companies and other service exports, while the EU will negotiate from a position of strength.
In an interview with Germany's Die Zeit newspaper on the 15th, Von der Leyen said, "The Western world we knew no longer exists." When asked whether the US is a friend, a former friend, or an opponent, Von der Leyen admitted that the relationship is "complex."
In terms of China-EU relations, Von der Leyen's "duality" is fully exposed. Since the start of Trump's second term, he has repeatedly wielded the human rights stick to interfere in China's internal affairs. Known as the "most famous hawk" on China in Europe, Von der Leyen's tone towards China has changed. She called for constructive engagement between China and the EU in February, saying that the two sides "can reach agreements" and "even expand their trade and investment relations."
She has not abandoned her argument about "excess capacity," expressing concern that the US-China trade dispute could lead to a resurgence of Chinese goods in Europe.
Some veteran EU figures believe that Von der Leyen's tough stance towards the US is merely superficial, as Europe depends on US military protection and has limited choices. Others claim that recent statements by Von der Leyen and other EU officials are aimed at reaching an agreement with the Trump administration while reminding Washington that Europe has other options.
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