DISINFO: The head of the European Commission threatened the people of Italy, Hungary and Poland
SUMMARY
The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen openly threatened the people of Italy, Hungary and Poland. Threats are linked to voting for political powers which the EU do not like.
RESPONSE
The target of this piece of disinformation, built around the claim of elections in some EU countries, is the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen.
The piece deliberately misconstrues a statement of the EC President in order to promote the disinformation narrative of an EU which infringes upon the national sovereignty of its member states and also euroscepticism.
The President of the European Commission has not threatened the “people of Italy, Hungary and Poland”. It was a message for the governments of Hungary and Poland, and the upcoming government of Italy to respect democratic principles.
This is not the first time that Ursula von der Leyen is the target for pro-Kremlin disinformation. See some other cases: Ursula von der Leyen unilaterally banned independent media; President of the European Commission and head of NATO visit Vilnius to instruct authorities; Ursula von der Leyen shouldn’t decide on the safety of Sputnik V; EU’s approval process is politicised.
These examples of disinformation fit in the Kremlin strategy of promoting the false narrative of lost sovereignty.