Maltese Roberta Metsola and her husband, Finn Ukko Metsola, both dreamed of illustrious European political careers from the beginning of their relationship. In 2009, they became the first couple to run as candidates for the European Parliament elections. Eventually, only Roberta’s political career took off when she was elected to the European Parliament in 2013. The couple agreed that whichever one of them made it to the EP first, the other would support them, giving up their own political ambitions. That’s exactly what happened, and Ukko, after his extended studies in the United States, became the director of Royal Caribbean, one of the largest shipping companies in the U.S. He then followed his wife’s rise in politics, taking a key position overseeing lobbying efforts for the company in Europe and the Pacific.
Their marriage, Ukko’s position (which raises all the red flags of conflicts of interest), and his intense lobbying in Brussels were well-known in liberal political circles. Yet no politician who was aware of the facts questioned whether Roberta, who played an active role in the Qatar corruption investigation and loudly condemned corruption at every opportunity, was truly the best person to be the President of the European Parliament. This unfolded while Ursula von der Leyen was embroiled in a corruption scandal that eerily mirrored the current Pfizer case, which favored an American corporation and involved destroying evidence.
- Metsola has been a leading figure in transparency and anti-corruption efforts, both in the EP and her home country, for decades. However, an Austrian independent expert claimed her doctoral thesis was heavily plagiarized.
- It is ironic that the leading anti-corruption figure is married to a lobbyist. Lobbying is often seen as legalized corruption, with the only difference being that lobbyists publicize their actions, though the details remain unclear to outsiders.
- The Metsolas claim they never discuss work at home, which seems plausible since they both work within the same system and could discuss matters on the spot. But if we question this, corruption seems almost hardwired into the situation.
- Daniel Freund, a Metsola supporter and transparency advocate, called it a “family matter.” But this would only be a family issue if they were trying to convince their parents to fund a vacation. Here, it’s about the systematic influence on legislation affecting an entire continent.
- Metsola also sought to make her brother-in-law chief of staff, which further suggests she views the EU system as a family business.
- It appears the EPP produces fine leaders for EU institutions. Ursula von der Leyen’s first term was filled with scandals, and Metsola’s case is likely just the tip of the iceberg. We should watch closely for more revelations in the coming months and years.
- Metsola’s defense of the shipping industry, while simultaneously pushing for the “green transition,” is particularly noteworthy. After all, shipping and aviation are two of the most environmentally damaging industries.
- The EPP and S&D factions, as long-standing leaders in EU politics, have produced scandals like Qatargate and the Pfizer scandal. Metsola’s case fits right in.
- Let’s not forget that in 2020, Metsola openly defended the Bulgarian government on international forums in a corruption scandal that led all the way to then-Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
- Interestingly, despite an overrepresentation of legal professionals in the European Parliament, they somehow left out a key clause in the ethics code: What rules apply to the EP President? If this was deliberate, it’s troubling, but if it wasn’t, it shows serious incompetence.
- The conclusion: all relevant figures are either incompetent or corrupt, neither of which is acceptable in the only directly elected EU institution.
- It became clear from the reactions of those questioned that Ukko Metsola’s lobbying activities were widely known, not only in the EP but across other EU institutions. Yet no one seemed to find it morally questionable.
- Bribery, corruption, abuse of office, harassment—there has been plenty of each in the last parliamentary term. Metsola, as the exemplary President of the EP, has set the tone for the next term with this scandal.
Translated and edited by Johannes Freund
