Ursula von der Leyen’s threat to impose a ‘vaccine border’ in Ireland may have taken the world by surprise but was her erratic behaviour really so unprecedented?
Having found herself at the helm of an organisation that has worked tirelessly to remove borders and preserve the free movement of people, she decided it was time for a change. Internationalism and pan-national solidarity only take you so far.
Her actions in Ireland revealed a darker side. Could it be that, having railed against populism in Italy and Spain, she has become secretly susceptible to its charms? Watching MAGA supporters storm the Capitol, it occurred to her that here was a moment for the EU to shine. Yes, it was time for Ursula to play the Donald at his own game.
Late last Friday night, she felt impulsive, picked up her phone and tweeted ‘Build the wall!’ Once she’d started, she simply couldn’t stop.
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