European elections 2024: Ursula’s eyes, Vestager’s tea and sofagate – 2024-06-07 10:15:46

Probably the most influential European in Brussels, the particular person behind the invoice DG Meme with over 115,000 followers on the “X” platform, Fabio Mauritalks in “Vima” concerning the faces of the time period he’s leaving, the intense proper, however primarily about his concept to create the DG Meme and Satirei.e. the Normal Directorate of Μemes and her Satire embellishing the unhealthy texts of the establishments but additionally capturing in easy phrases one other actuality of the Brussels bubble however at all times with a transparent pro-European perspective.

“My sofa meme”

Who does not keep in mind the so-called Sofagate with the president of the European Council, Charles Michel leaving a column of salt for the president of the Fee Ursula von der Leyen, when he sat within the chair subsequent to Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara and he or she was shocked to have a look at them. The meme concerning the incident was for Fabio one of many funniest.

“Spicy moments have been many, however the funniest one, ‘sofagate’, was fairly spectacular: My ‘sofagate’ meme for which I principally used an Ikea chair referred to as Erdogan was retweeted in Kurdistan. I had many new followers from Turkey. It was a really, very memorable second.”

Ursula von der Leyen, Nicholas Schmidt and memes

Lately, he met each the candidate of the EPP for a second time period within the presidency of the Fee, Ursula von der Leyen, and the candidate of the socialists, Nicolas Schmidt. “We should perceive, to start with, that anybody who holds such a excessive political place can’t be the standard chief we’ve got in our states. These candidates are at all times discovered as a compromise. In order that they have to have the ability to navigate the complexity of the European Union” Fabio solutions once we requested him concerning the assembly he had with Ursula von der Leyen. On the similar time, as he mentioned, it is a lady, “who has many issues to unravel” due to her place.

Her dedication and power are key parts she focuses on: “She has these very intense blue eyes. He listened to what I mentioned, he laughed rather a lot at my sayings with memes. So, I’ve a optimistic view. In fact, it is sophisticated and one can criticize many selections she made previously, however nonetheless that is robust and really dedicated management, particularly when you think about that she is not in her youth. And but it provides the message of power”.

Tireless and the socialist Nicolas Schmidt: “It was very humorous to satisfy him. Additionally very energetic, contemplating he is 70 and has been touring Europe for the previous three months. It’s spectacular. In actual fact, his assistant informed me, I am 34 and I am exhausted. It was good to speak to him. Very simple to contact. You see, he has been used to speaking to regular individuals for a very long time within the Socialist Occasion. So, I imply, it is optimistic. They’re definitely sensible leaders.”

“Vestager made the tea”

The Commissioner for Competitiveness, Margrethe Vestager was the primary of the Commissioners to be interviewed. He describes it because the “creative nature” of the Fee. “She was completely open to the interview. After I tweeted her, hey, you understand what I am doing with the DG Meme, I am attempting to clarify Europe in a humorous means. Would you’ve gotten time for an interview? She responded inside two hours. It was Saturday evening and he mentioned, sure, I like your web page. Please write to my companion. Then we set it up and it was such a lovely environment we had. I took my good friend Martina with me. She baked cookies and Vestager made the tea. We drank tea and biscuits in Berlemont (additionally the headquarters of the Fee). It was an nearly sunny day” he says and talks concerning the “creative commissioner. Very open, very pleasant.”

The “rationalist” commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis

It was the flip of the “rationalist” commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. “Then I mentioned I’ve to go the other means. After I prompt the interview, his workplace was additionally pleased. I am informed the commissioner noticed a few of your work and is laughing. So we’ll do the interview. And I used to be in a position to meet him. He is a extremely humorous man. In fact, he trusts his numbers and may be very rational, very sensible.” Then again, the workplace of the Slovenian disaster administration commissioner, Janes Lenarcic, replied to him “after all, after we noticed you interviewing Dombrovskis, how can we are saying no? As a result of it issues in the long run that you simply do humorous issues, however they’re additionally critical. They’ve a purpose.”

Margaritis Schinas appears to be like a bit like Humphrey Bogart

Outdated acquaintances with the vice-president of the Fee, Margariti Schina since Fabio did his internship on the Fee. For Fabio “he’s the bullfighter of the noon briefing (based on the correspondents). Margaritis was like the large man within the Normal Directorate of Communication after I was an intern. He appears to be like a bit like Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca to me. He walks in, he is type of clear shaven.

He is available in and in model: you understand, we at all times have Europe and he at all times reassures you along with his voice. He was not a commissioner then, he was the chief consultant who at all times answered journalists, tried to reply or not reply journalists, which remains to be an incredible talent of politicians. It is very humorous with him. We have been tweeting for years. It isn’t like I needed to keep away from him. I simply know he is very able to giving me something juicy if I interview him, as a result of he is used to defusing bombs from reporters and I am only a hobbyist reporter.”

«Politics is like footwear. There’s a left and a proper, however ultimately you’ll want to go barefoot.»
[Jean-Luc Godard] pic.twitter.com/D0Fk1a4Q5Y

— DG MEME 🇪🇺 (@meme_ec) June 3, 2024

Satire additionally brings reactions

In fact, satire generally additionally brings reactions: “There have been definitely many unfavorable reactions, particularly firstly. I confronted extreme criticism. I imply, I used to be hiding for just a few years earlier than I got here out as a result of, you understand, everyone likes free speech till there’s free speech. However over time the state of affairs improved, the web page turned stronger and stronger. So sooner or later, it’s important to settle for that it’s a part of the European lifestyle as Schoinas would say. Subsequently, there’s nonetheless criticism, which is welcome. I imply, you write one thing and persons are free to criticize, however I have never had something actually scary the place I’ve to take one thing down underneath strain.”

The function of ID within the European Parliament.
(ECR may be very grateful) pic.twitter.com/UHOg603vsO

— DG MEME 🇪🇺 (@meme_ec) June 4, 2024

“They cover all the eagerness”

In two weeks the… Directorate Normal of Memes and Satire turns six years previous. Fabio explains to us how this web page was impressed: “the purpose of this DG Meme was initially to criticize a sure strategy to EU communication, particularly the bulletins of the EU establishments, which I discover very disappointing. They managed to make most of what we do right here boring. They cover all the eagerness, all of the exhausting work, all of the conflicts that occur in Brussels.

As I began as a trainee on the Fee, I attempted to critique throughout the conferences and counsel completely different concepts and say, you understand, possibly this strategy shouldn’t be one of the best. We have now to attempt one other means. However nobody was listening. Lastly, someday, after a protracted, tremendous boring assembly the place I needed to take heed to numerous unhealthy concepts, I believed I’ve had sufficient, I’ve to do one thing. That is how I began. After this assembly I used to be very upset. So I went out with a good friend, we had a beer. I used to be complaining concerning the communication methods, and he mentioned, you are so good. Why do not you counsel one thing your self? After which I used to be pondering, what can I do? What can I counsel? I haven’t got a finances, so what can I do with communication? Then I thought of memes which are simple to create.”

#EuElections2024 #VoteForEurope pic.twitter.com/omHPLcE9kd

— DG MEME 🇪🇺 (@meme_ec) June 4, 2024

The actual picture of the intense proper via memes

Simply earlier than the European elections, Fabio tries to indicate the true picture of the intense proper via memes.

“Their ideology is so quaint, outdated and previous an strategy to issues so stale. They don’t know that the world shouldn’t be what it was 100 years in the past. They need to convey us again there. However, not in my title and never with out my wrestle in opposition to them. They may make us waste numerous time. By that I am not saying that a number of the factors they make or attempt to make are fully absurd, like the truth that immigration is an issue, one thing you’d by no means hear from extra left-wing events.

It is very important say, sure, immigration is an issue, as there are lots of issues and we will resolve it along with immigrants and discover methods to do it, to speak and present the range that exists in a pleasant means. When variety is aggressive in opposition to us, then we should step in and discover a solution to block. However general the sensation I get is that they’re simply scaring individuals with guarantees. Once more, that is counterproductive as a result of they will set us again 100 years, fifty years, and we do not want it proper now.”

On the day of the European elections, Fabio can be within the European Parliament ready for the outcomes and definitely inspiration and concepts for the following challenge of memes and satire.