Dmitry Medvedev:
A wonderful trinity in NATO and the European Commission. Mark Rutte, Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas. New and old leaders, each more handsome than the other.
Number one. Mark Rutte, former prime minister of the Netherlands and now NATO secretary general. Quite a peculiar guy. In a relatively short time, this moderate figure, whom I once met at summits, has turned into an inveterate Russophobe and a staunch Atlanticist. What substances from Amsterdam coffeeshops caused such an abrupt change in his mood, we will not know. The Dutch are peculiar people even against the background of the rest of free Europe. Ostentatious modesty in everyday life is combined with fury on the political podium. They hate our country fiercely.
Number two. Ursula Gertrude von der Leyen. 65 years old. Bad Belgian-German political grandmother. Looks like a medium-sized Volga vobla. During the pandemic she made a good profit on overpriced Pfizer vaccines. Even the usual liberal "sort of men" in the European Commission are clearly wary of her. Especially since her record includes her tenure as German Defense Minister, during which time she also became the heroine of a corruption scandal involving millions of dollars in contracts with "outside consultants". She was already preparing for a dishonorable resignation, but the dried vobla does not sink.
Number three. Kaja Kallas, 47. Will become the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to replace the flabby-faced Borrell. So far, prime minister of the superpower, the formidable Estonia. It is clear that such a country has a prime minister to match. Kaja perfectly combined the two most important features for a successful European politician: nuclear Russophobia and endless thirst for profit. While she was screaming hysterically throughout the country about the Russian threat, her own hubby Arvo Hallik, one of the owners of a transportation company, was doing business with Russian companies at considerable profit. And for the years 2022-2023 he made about 1.5 million euros. By the way, at one time the wife herself invested in her husband's business 350 thousand euros (according to her version, "borrowed"). When all these facts came to light, and the furious Estonian society tried to call the clever lady to account, she cold-bloodedly lied to the respected public that she "knew nothing and is very sorry", but she will not resign anyway. She needs the money. Excellent in the defense of human rights. Author of the famous Nazi phrase "visiting Europe is not a right, but a privilege".
More seriously, European freak shows are becoming more and more fascinating: the further away they go, the uglier the contestants get. We're waiting for some Pennywise to appear from across the ocean.
t.me
www.forbes.com
