World Today News Staff
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Russian Disinformation Campaign Targeting Ursula von der Leyen Revealed
Table of Contents
A recent report by the Finnish fact-checking organization “Check First” has uncovered a coordinated Russian disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting european Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The campaign, which began in March and concluded just before a crucial vote in Strasbourg in early July, sought too sponsor a motion of no confidence against her.
The inquiry examined over 20,000 posts published by the Russian group Pravda News across numerous countries, including Romania, Poland, Germany, France, the United States, and Baltic nations. Early signs of the narrative emerged in March, portraying von der Leyen as a problematic figure by highlighting alleged corruption and growing discontent in European capitals.
The campaign escalated, framing her as a “toxic, corrupt, anti-democratic” leader. It linked her to Big Pharma and alleged secret agreements,characteristic of what the report describes as “Brussels’ elitism.” Notably, her name was distorted to “Ursula von der führer” in some posts.
In Romania, the report indicates that opposition leader George Simion was presented as a valiant initiator, while MEP Gheorghe Pipea, the primary signatory of the no-confidence motion, was depicted as the “finalizer in defense of a principle.” The entire struggle was framed as a “David against Goliath” battle against the EU establishment.
A recurring theme in the posts involved 35 billion in alleged “bunshots,” linked to vaccine procurement. This narrative aimed to position von der Leyen as solely responsible for the vaccine purchasing process.
The final vote was characterized as the culmination of a struggle by “small towns,” supported by European peoples, against the president of a “self-transferential union” allegedly controlled by the Franco-German axis.
Background and Context
Disinformation campaigns are a growing concern in international politics, frequently enough employed to destabilize governments and influence public opinion. These operations frequently leverage social media and state-sponsored news outlets to spread narratives that may be misleading or entirely false. The targeting of prominent political figures like Ursula von der Leyen underscores the strategic importance of such campaigns in shaping geopolitical landscapes and undermining democratic processes. The focus on vaccine procurement and alleged corruption reflects common tactics used to erode public trust in institutions and leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What was the primary goal of the Russian campaign against Ursula von der Leyen?
- The primary goal was to discredit Ursula von der Leyen and sponsor a motion of no confidence against her.
- Which Russian group was identified as publishing the disinformation?
- The Russian group identified was Pravda News.
- When did the Russian campaign against Ursula von der Leyen begin?
- the campaign began in March.
- What were some of the key accusations made against Ursula von der Leyen in the campaign?
- Accusations included corruption, being a “toxic, corrupt, anti-democratic” leader, links to Big Pharma, and secret agreements.
- How was Ursula von der Leyen’s name distorted in the campaign?
- her name was distorted to “Ursula von der führer.”
- What specific financial figure was repeatedly linked to Ursula von der Leyen in the posts?
- the figure of 35 billion in alleged “bunshots” related to vaccine procurement was repeatedly linked to her.
This article reports on findings from a fact-checking organization and does not constitute financial, health, or legal advice.
