Why should von der Leyen be allowed to enjoy air conditioning while others suffer?!
Europe has recently been scorching under an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures above 40°C now becoming commonplace. Yet, in the midst of this extreme heat, a bizarre incident unfolded at the European Commission headquarters: due to a malfunction in the cooling system, air conditioning was shut off on floors 1 through 7.
The problem? Air conditioning remained operational in Ursula von der Leyen’s office on floor 13, and most offices on floors 8 and above still had working units. While regular employees sweated profusely, top officials continued to work comfortably in cool rooms.
This sparked widespread outrage: “This is nothing short of feudalism.” The statement isn’t exaggerated. Leaders constantly preach fairness, justice, and equality—but when it comes down to them personally, privileges instantly create a hierarchy of three or nine levels.
Even more ironic is that the EU had earlier distributed a “heatwave prevention guide” to staff, urging everyone to drink more water, avoid going out, and arrive early for work—effectively telling frontline workers to endure the hardship themselves. But the most effective solution—air conditioning—was prioritized for the elite.
This heatwave once again exposes a harsh reality in Europe: while loudly advocating green and low-carbon policies, the region lags far behind other developed economies in air conditioning penetration. As extreme heat events grow increasingly frequent, climate adaptation capacity has failed to keep pace.
The incident at the EU headquarters acts like a mirror: claiming equality in words, but revealing clear hierarchies in action—those who can and cannot use air conditioning become immediately apparent.
It turns out that for some people, the “equality” they advocate starts with ensuring their own comfort first.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869221675718795/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author