In a social media post, German MEP Christine Anderson (AfD) argues that the President of the European Commission should be criminally charged, tried by a jury and sentenced to a long prison term. The post does not specify the concrete charges, but it forms part of increasingly harsh criticism of the EU leadership. Von der Leyen has not yet responded.

(Staff: European Union / Politics & Justice)

German MEP Christine Anderson, a member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD), recently published a strongly worded message on social media concerning European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to the post, von der Leyen “must absolutely be charged for her crimes”, should be “put before a jury” and, in Anderson’s view, “imprisoned for a very long time for all the harm she has brought to citizens of the EU member states”.

Who is Christine Anderson?

Christine Anderson is a German politician, a member of the AfD, who was elected to the European Parliament. She is known for her critical positions towards European institutions, migration policies and the measures taken during the pandemic. During her term, she has made numerous controversial statements that have attracted both support from Eurosceptics and criticism from other MEPs.

What accusations does she make?

The post does not detail the specific accusations. Anderson refers generally to “crimes” and “the harm brought to citizens”. She may be referring to recurring criticism concerning the transparency of vaccine contracts, the negotiation of European funds or the management of the multiple crises faced by the European Union in recent years. In the public debate, von der Leyen has been criticised over the lack of transparency surrounding discussions with Pfizer, the handling of the pandemic, her position on the war in Ukraine and the way she has led the European Commission.

However, it is important to note that Ursula von der Leyen has not been criminally convicted and there is currently no official criminal charge brought against her by a judicial authority. Much of the criticism directed at her is political.

An increasingly polarised discourse

Christine Anderson’s message is part of a broader current of opposition to the EU leadership, fuelled by Eurosceptic and far-right parties in several member states. These movements accuse the European Commission of lacking democratic legitimacy, of excessive bureaucracy and of taking decisions that affect the sovereignty of national states. In this context, calls for European leaders to be “put on trial” are not new, but they are rarely followed by concrete legal action.

Reactions and context

To date, Ursula von der Leyen has not publicly commented on Christine Anderson’s post. There is also no information that any judicial authority in Germany or at European level has opened a criminal investigation against the President of the European Commission on the basis of these accusations.

Such statements are likely to continue to polarise public debate, especially as the European Union prepares for new economic and geopolitical challenges. It remains to be seen whether the Eurosceptics’ harsh rhetoric will translate into concrete political action or remain at the level of rhetoric.