Ursula Gates: Von der Leyenová a síla lobby v Bruselu – Baldan Frédéric (2026)

On 5 April 2023, an unprecedented criminal complaint is filed in Liège, placing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen under scrutiny. The allegations involve corruption, abuse of power and the destruction of documents in connection with secret negotiations conducted by text message with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla. Billion-euro contracts and European citizens’ right to transparency were at stake. The affair triggered “SMSgate”, a case that shook European institutions and exposed the opaque mechanisms underlying the handling of the Covid crisis. In this book, Frédéric Baldan tells his story firsthand and reveals what remains hidden. Beginning with the true story of Ursula von der Leyen, he examines the lobbying that shapes political decisions and the conflicts of interest that undermine democratic trust, as well as a European justice system subordinated to political power. This bold and thoroughly documented investigation highlights the dark forces clouding the credibility of the European Union. Who really managed the pandemic? Whose interests prevailed over citizens’ fundamental rights? And how can we regain control over our lives? The book is neither a pamphlet nor another denunciatory essay, but something more: a testimony to extraordinary and decidedly rare courage. Inspired by his awakening, lobbyist Baldan first exposes the dark side of the world with which he coexisted for many years, the world of the most powerful lobbyists operating in national and especially international institutions. He does so with exceptional precision, documenting all his claims and conclusions.