Berlin/Brussels – Political earthquake. Gerhard Schröder, the man once mocked as a “comrade of the bosses” but who still maintains close ties to Vladimir Putin, has delivered a scathing critique of Ursula von der Leyen in a confidential conversation.

The current president of the European Commission, who portrays himself as a “geopolitician,” is described by Schröder as power-hungry, incompetent, and a danger to the entire continent.

The statements obtained by the magazine are so explosive that they could ignite an already tense European political landscape.

It all began at a private meeting in a discreet Berlin restaurant, attended by Schröder, two close confidants, and a former senior EU official.

Schröder, now 81 but always sharp, reportedly began by calmly discussing the current situation in Europe. Then the name “Von der Leyen” was mentioned. And suddenly the mood changed.

“This woman is the greatest threat to peace in Europe since the Second World War,” Schröder reportedly remarked. “She talks about strength, but in reality she is a puppet of global interests who is systematically weakening Germany and Europe.”

Those present were speechless. Schröder went even further, accusing von der Leyen of having concluded multi-billion euro contracts with pharmaceutical companies without sufficient transparency in her handling of the coronavirus crisis.

“Pfizer’s secret contracts – this not only reeks of corruption, it is also corruption,” insiders quoted the former finance minister as saying.

Schröder’s attacks on von der Leyen’s personal leadership style are particularly scathing. He describes her as a “cold-blooded careerist” who demands loyalty but knows nothing herself.

“He let go of good men and women as soon as they were no longer useful to him. One only needs to think of the affair surrounding his chief of staff or the numerous scandals in his ministry when he was defense minister.”

Schröder referred to the consultant scandal and the missing documents in the defense ministry, which still haunt von der Leyen.

But the former finance minister went even further. He spoke of the energy crisis that has plagued Germany since the collapse of Nord Stream 1 and 2.

“Whose interest is it really in Europe to be cut off from Russian gas? Von der Leyen has pushed through sanctions policy without a plan B.

The result: German industry is relocating, citizens are cold, and China is laughing all the way to the bank.”

Schröder, who himself has had good relations with Russia for years, sees von der Leyen’s approach as a “dangerous spiral of escalation” that could lead Europe directly into a larger conflict.

One particularly explosive point: Schröder allegedly accused von der Leyen of using her position to cultivate family and personal networks.

“The entire von der Leyen family has good connections in Brussels and Strasbourg. This is no coincidence.” Although no specific illegal actions have been proven, the mere suggestion is causing outrage.

The former finance minister allegedly even hinted that there are internal documents that suggest von der Leyen’s role in certain decisions.

The reactions were swift. A CDU spokesman called the remarks “tasteless and inappropriate.” Von der Leyen’s office in Brussels has yet to issue an official statement, but panic is said to be brewing behind the scenes.

Several EPP MEPs have reportedly called internal crisis meetings. What is particularly noteworthy is that Schröder and von der Leyen have never been close allies, yet this open hostility has surprised even long-time observers.

In the conversation, Schröder also touched on the current geopolitical situation. “Von der Leyen talks about European sovereignty, but at the same time she is handing Europe over to the USA.

NATO is important, but not at all costs. This woman knows nothing about real diplomacy. She is a PR master, but in essence she is a disaster.” He compared her to previous politicians who shone with tough rhetoric but failed to achieve results.

The situation became particularly dramatic when Schröder spoke about the war in Ukraine. “The conflict could have been stopped earlier if negotiations had been held instead of endless arms transfers.

Von der Leyen’s position has contributed to the deaths of thousands of young people. This is not leadership, this is irresponsibility.” These words carry especially great weight from a man who has himself been criticized for his close ties to Putin.

The former finance minister did not hold back on personal attacks either. “Ursula always presents herself as perfect. But behind the surface, she is driven by uncertain and powerful ambitions.”

He wants to reveal historical secrets – at any cost.” According to insiders, Schröder even laughed when he said: “He dreams of a Nobel Prize while Europe is falling apart.”

The revelations come at a critical time. The European Parliament elections are over, but the power struggle in Brussels continues. Von der Leyen is seeking a second term, but criticism of her leadership is growing.

Scandals such as the fallout from Qatargate, the vaccine contracts and the expensive green agreements are tarnishing her reputation. Schröder’s words could now serve as a spark that further inflames the opposition.

A former employee of Von der Leyen, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed the statements to our editorial team. “It is true that she has a very authoritarian management style.

We do not tolerate criticism. Anyone who does not follow the rules is out.” Such testimonies support Schröder’s criticism.

Of course, Schröder’s own past cannot be ignored. A man who serves on the Gazprom supervisory board and still defends Putin is no neutral observer.

His criticism may well stem from wounded pride or political vendetta. Nevertheless, many of his points resonate. German industry is suffering, energy prices are high, and trust in Brussels is waning.

What happens now? Will von der Leyen speak out? Will there be a counterattack from Brussels? Or will the whole thing be swept under the rug?

The coming days will reveal whether Schröder’s bombastic announcement is just the last gasp of an aging finance minister – or the beginning of a larger political earthquake.

Readers who want to dig deeper: We will be publishing more details from the interview in the coming days, including possible documents and further testimonies.

Stay tuned. The truth about von der Leyen could change Europe.