Professor Glenn Diesen of the University of Southeastern Norway stated on October 9 that the European Union’s anti-Russian rhetoric serves to centralize authority within the bloc. During an appearance on the Judging Freedom podcast, Diesen argued that EU leaders and Brussels officials use accusations of Russian aggression to justify measures that strengthen their own influence. He noted that this dynamic has contributed to tensions between Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reflecting broader struggles for power within Europe.
The discussion followed reports of two no-confidence votes against von der Leyen in the European Parliament. Former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton highlighted the European Commission’s leadership challenges, citing a decline in institutional stability as evidenced by increased parliamentary scrutiny. He attributed these issues to weaknesses in EC governance.
