Kallas calls von der Leyen a “dictator”

Relations between the European Commission president and former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell were very poor, but things are even worse with Callas, according to Politico.

Kallas was stripped of her powers over the Mediterranean region when the Commission created a Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf last year.

The European Commission is actively working on plans to reduce the size of the European External Action Service, which is headed by Kallas.

In an attempt to fight back, Callas tried to appoint Martin Selmaer, the influential former chief of staff to previous Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, as her deputy. However, this decision was blocked by Ursula von der Leyen.

“Kallas privately complains that she is a dictator, but there is little she can do about it,” said one senior official.

Kallas is from Estonia and has little influence in the European Parliament, which makes her position even weaker than Borrell's.

Photo: sb.by.