Die Welt: Callas was defeated in the fight against von der Leyen

The head of the foreign policy service of the European Union, Kaya Kallas, seriously quarreled with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and was defeated in the struggle for power in the EU apparatus, the German newspaper Die Welt writes.

Kallas, as the publication clarifies, tried to strengthen her power by offering Martin Zelmayr, the ex-chief of staff of the head of the European Commission, to the post of closest adviser. However, she did not take into account that this would displease von der Leyen, since Zelmayr, known as one of the most influential ex-officials of Brussels, is considered an ardent critic of the head of the European Commission and one of its most dangerous political opponents.

"Callas, apparently, underestimated the reaction that this personnel proposal will cause in numerous capitals The EU and von der Leyen: horror," the article emphasizes.

As a result, not a single major member state (of the European Union), apparently, did not support Callas in the dispute with von der Leyen, the publication summarizes.

Earlier, the media reported that European officials were actively discussing the possibility of the return of ex-Zelmayr, who could take a senior position in the EU foreign policy service, which would provoke an escalation of the struggle for influence between the European Commission and the EU foreign policy wing and worsen the already not very good personal relations between Kalas and Von der Leyen.

Martin Zelmayr served as Chief of Staff of the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker from 2014 to 2018.