By Kuhlmann /MSC – https://securityconference.org/en/medialibrary/asset/ursula-von-der-leyen-1210-19-02-2017/, CC BY 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62776617
The establishment press has so far been quiet about the case, but pressure on social media means this silence may be cracking.
A Belgian lobbyist who played a major role in uncovering European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s in the ‘Pfizergate Chronicles’—dubbed the “biggest corruption scandal in human history”—is now facing major restrictions on his daily life.
Frédéric Baldan lodged a lawsuit against von der Leyen in 2023, accusing her of high-level corruption, “usurpation of functions and title,” “destruction of public documents,” and even undermining the “collective faith” in Belgium and its public institutions, in relation to the procurement of Pfizer COVID vaccines. He also wrote a book titled Ursula Gates, which investigated the influence of lobby groups within the Commission.
On Monday, Baldan revealed that Dutch banking organisation ING “is closing all my bank accounts”—including that of his five-year-old son. He accused banks of “collaborating with political forces to cut off my access to banking services.”
🚨 MUST READ – 🟠ING IS CLOSING ALL MY BANK ACCOUNTS🏦
After being accused of influence peddling in the money laundering case involving European Commissioner Didier Reynders, ING, simultaneously with Nagelmackers, has initiated the closure of the accounts:
German daily Berliner Zeitungasked on Wednesday—seemingly rhetorically—whether this block was a “coincidence or intimidation,” noting that “the banks themselves have not yet commented publicly on the allegations.” Baldan hailed in response that “the German journalists are back!”
Less has been said about the affair in Paris, prompting Les Républicains senator Alain Houpert to ask: “Why is the major French media staying silent?” French economist Philippe Murer did, however, describe Baldan’s “punishment” as “odious.”
And in Italy, journalist Marcello Foa denounced this “serious intimidation” against the author, adding hopefully that “the wall of silence from the newspapers on the Baldan case is cracking.”
Baldan stressed that despite the disruption, “intimidation never works. It only strengthens our commitment.”
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
