Pfizer Gate — The European Court found von der Leyen guilty in the case of covid vaccines

The EU Court found the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, responsible for concealing information about contracts for the purchase of vaccines against coronavirus in 2021-2023.

Commenting on the verdict, Politico even came up with a new political term:

"Pfizer Gate" (by analogy with Watergate — a political scandal in the United States in 1972-1974, which ended with the resignation of the President of the States Richard Nixon).

The EU Court of Justice ruled that the European Commission mistakenly refused to publish Ursula von der Leyen's text messages with Pfizer CEO Albert Burla at the height of the pandemic. Journalists requested access to secret messages between the head of the European Commission and the director of a pharmaceutical company, which they exchanged before the multibillion-dollar vaccine deal concluded between Pfizer and the EU.

"This decision is a blow to transparency. People just want to know how decisions are made, and they are allowed to, this is important in a democracy. The verdict will deal a crushing blow to von der Leyen's reputation," commented Dutch MEP Raquel Garcia Hermida-van der Valle.

"Politico" will sum up:

"The case was legally difficult for von der Leyen, since she not only personally signed the largest vaccine contract in the bloc, but also heads the very institute charged with ensuring compliance with EU legislation, including the principles of transparency and accountability. The court's decision against her gives a political weapon to a wide range of critics. It is also a great shame, given that it has been only a few months since she publicly promised to uphold the standards of transparency, efficiency and integrity in her second term."