politics
January 27, 2026
EU’s Kallas privately complaining about ‘dictator’ von der Leyen
Politico has shed light on the divisions between senior EU officials Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas
TL;DR
- Kaja Kallas privately criticizes Ursula von der Leyen's "authoritarian style," calling her a "dictator."
- A senior diplomat stated Kallas "little or nothing she can do about that."
- There are reports of a bitter rivalry between Kallas and von der Leyen, with the latter holding the upper hand.
- Von der Leyen has faced criticism for a "(metaphorical) bunker" working style with strict need-to-know protocols.
- Von der Leyen survived a fourth no-confidence vote in the European Parliament.
- Kallas has also faced criticism for her role and anti-Russian stance.
- Other individuals in Brussels with "toughest jobs" include Paula Pinho, Mark Rutte, Balint Odor, and Maros Sefcovic.