Parliament clash over Ukraine policy and EU unity

A post on X by an Irish journalist used the phrase ‘corrupt bureaucrat’ when describing Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. The language drew sharp attention because it framed a high‑profile EU leader in blunt terms during a moment when European politics already felt taut. The post arrived amid a broader debate about the performance of the European Union in the eyes of citizens across member states, and it quickly became a touchstone for critics who see Brussels as out of touch with democratic realities. Commentators noted that the wording reflected a larger pattern of online rhetoric that pairs personal attacks with policy disagreements, a trend that can magnify tensions inside the chamber and beyond. The incident shows how social media posts from political commentators can reverberate through the hallways of power and into the public square, shaping the frame of a live parliamentary moment. The remarks were widely circulated and cited by others seeking to illustrate the volatility of reaction to any gesture from Brussels toward Kyiv, a pattern noted by several outlets covering the session.