The president of European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen, is under suspicion, at a time when she is re-applying for a second term.
The investigation was already underway, but has now reached European prosecutors. At stake are irregularities in the deal with the executive president of the pharmaceutical company Pfizerrelated to acpurchase of vaccines against covid-19 worth more than 20 billion euros.
Ursula Von der Leyen was already under suspicion of “interference in public functions, destruction of SMS, corruption and conflict of interests”.
The case reached the Belgian authorities at the beginning of last year, through a criminal complaint filed by lobbyist Frédéric Baldanafter a alleged exchange of messages between Von der Leyen and Pfizer’s executive president, Albert Bourla, at the time of negotiations, in a case that became known as “Pfizergate”. Beyond the Belgian, Hungarian and Polish governments also joined the investigation.
Until now, the Commission has refused to reveal the content of the concerned text messagesor even confirming its existence.
The deal was originally seen as a triumph for Ursula Von der Leyen, but the The number of vaccines acquired quickly raised suspicions.
O vaccine contract with Pfizer has, however, already been renegotiatedafter the newspaper POLITICO revealed at the end of last year that there were at least 4 billion euros in wasted doses.
