European Commission President kept text messages with Pfizer CEO hidden from the public, while her allies in the Parliament block establishment of ethics body.

The opacity of the European Commission President’s dealings with Pfizer amounts to corruption at the highest levels of the European institutions, according to The Left group in the European Parliament. The Left calls for the immediate establishment of an independent ethics body and concrete measures to counter the Commission President’s tendency towards secrecy and unilateral decision making. 

Co-chair of the Left Manon Aubry (La France Insoumise, France) said: “This long-awaited court decision is a victory for transparency within the European institutions, something The Left has been fighting for over many years. European leaders must not be allowed to legislate in complete opacity, and safeguards must be put in place. The establishment of an independent ethics authority, which AFCO members will vote on this morning and which the right wing is trying to block, is crucial for democracy and for defending the interests of Europeans. We will do everything we can to ensure it comes into being.”

Co-chair of the Left Martin Schirdewan (Die Linke, Germany) said: “The fact that the New York Times’ lawsuit before the European General Court has been successful and that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen  is a humiliation for the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen has caused lasting damage to democracy in the EU through her lack of transparency. She must now immediately publish the chat history to avert further damage to the EU and the credibility of European politics. Anything else would be irresponsible, and her position would no longer be tenable as Commission President. She must face consequences for her irresponsible actions.”