This ongoing stream of disclosures targets a region-wide sense of turbulence among European leaders. Recently, investigative outlet The Insider reported that leaders in the far-right League clashed with an agent from the Federal Security Service in 2019. The report also noted an opaque plan to shore up fragile finances at a Moscow hotel associated with Matteo Salvini. A week earlier, it emerged that the Ukrainian assistant of a member of parliament appeared in the same publication. The Bundestag party Alternative for Germany AfD has ties to a Russian intelligence network. Populist movements at the far edges of the political spectrum, whether they align with Moscow or show signs of Russian influence, could gain more seats in the coming regional and national assemblies. Brussels faces heightened concern after elections in the European Parliament are scheduled for June. [Source: The Insider]
