The corruption investigation involving Federica Mogherini risks generating a major political crisis in the EU, affecting the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen.

The corruption investigation targeting Federica Mogherini, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, could trigger a significant political crisis in the European Union, according to POLITICO. The European Public Prosecutor's Office has detained Mogherini and a senior diplomat, having suspicions of fraud in public procurement related to a tender for a diplomatic academy. Critics of Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission, are using this scandal to call for a vote of no confidence against her. If the allegations prove true, the scandal could be comparable to the mass resignation of the Jacques Santer Commission in 1999. Relations between von der Leyen and the current head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, are already strained, and the investigation could intensify criticism of her leadership. Eurosceptic and populist parties are taking advantage of this situation to highlight an alleged double standard in managing corruption at the national versus the European level. The European Union has also been affected by corruption scandals, including the 'Qatargate' case, which involved influencing MEPs through bribery.