Belgian lobbyist sues EU Commission chief for corruption

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - A Belgian activist started legal action against EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for causing financial damage to the Belgian state by negotiating the joint procurement of COVID-19 vaccines by text messages, local media reported.

Frederic Baldan, a lobbyist officially accredited to EU institutions, sued von der Leyen for causing financial damage to the Belgian state when she secured a €35 billion ($38.4 billion) deal with pharma company Pfizer to buy 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for EU countries, Belgian weekly Le Vif reported.

The purchased number of jabs turned out to be way more than the EU countries needed and had to be destroyed or donated.

According to the investigation of the US-based daily New York Times, von der Leyen negotiated the mega-deal by text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla but claimed later to have erased the conversation.

According to Baldan’s claim, von der Leyen is responsible for “abusing office and title”, “destruction of public documents,” and “illegal usage of interests and corruption.”

The European Ombudsman and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office have also started investigating the allegations, while The New York Times sued the European Commission at the EU Court in February.

Baldan’s lawsuit is the first against its president who could have committed a crime under Belgian criminal law.