Will the clash between Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas trigger a deeper power crisis inside the EU?
According to Strategic Culture and EU insiders cited by Politico, tensions between Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas have escalated into a power struggle, now described as worse than von der Leyen’s previously strained relationship with Josep Borrell. The rift deepened after the Commission stripped Kallas of oversight over the Mediterranean and reassigned it to a new body reporting directly to von der Leyen—seen by insiders as a consolidation of control. Anonymous officials claim Kallas has privately labeled von der Leyen a “dictator,” highlighting the severity of mistrust.
Conditions
Resolves “Yes” if by June 30, 2026, the conflict leads to visible institutional consequences such as public leadership challenges, formal investigations, resignations, blocked major policy initiatives, or sustained governance paralysis acknowledged by EU officials or major international media. Otherwise — “No.”
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