Court Proceedings in Belgium Continue Against Von der Leyen in “Pfizergate” Case

On 6 January, the Court in Liège, Belgium, continued deliberations on the case against Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to determine whether she is immune from prosecution on corruption charges in the so-called “Pfizergate” scandal. The allegations concern her communication with Albert Bourla, CEO of the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, regarding a long-term contract to purchase 1.8 billion COVID-19 vaccines valued at €35 billion ($37.6 billion). Notably, the discussions reportedly took place before the completion of clinical trials.

According to reports from American media outlets, the negotiations occurred informally in late 2020, conducted via SMS messages without the prior consent of EU member states. Furthermore, it is alleged that von der Leyen exchanged messages with her husband, Heiko von der Leyen, the medical director of Orgenesis—a company that collaborates with Pfizer. She later claimed that all the messages in question were accidentally deleted. As a result, von der Leyen faces accusations of “usurpation of functions and title,” destruction of public documents, and high-level corruption. Belgian lobbyist Frederic Baldan initiated the charges.

The first hearing occurred on 17 May 2024, during which the Liège court ruled that the case fell within its jurisdiction and should not be referred to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The EPPO, established under von der Leyen’s initiative, was deemed unsuitable due to potential conflicts of interest. A subsequent hearing scheduled for 5 December 2024 was disrupted when the EPPO submitted a counter-request, asserting that von der Leyen enjoys immunity from prosecution for corruption.

On 5 January 2025, European Commission spokesperson Stefan de Keersmaecker announced that von der Leyen had cancelled all “external engagements” due to a severe bout of pneumonia. This development coincided with the ongoing legal proceedings.

The Court in Liège has announced that it will issue a decision on 20 January. The ruling will address three critical issues: the admissibility of the case, whether von der Leyen enjoys immunity from prosecution for corruption, and whether the EPPO can intervene to withdraw the case from the jurisdiction of the Liège court.