The Ultimatum: “You Are Not Sent by God”

In a session that quickly garnered attention across the continent, Bogdan’s remarks were not just a critique of policy but a fundamental challenge to the Commission’s authority. His words were stark and personal. “You are playing with fire! You are not sent by God on earth!” he declared, addressing the Commission President. This theological framing was a deliberate rhetorical device, reminding the EU’s executive body that its power is derived from the people and their elected representatives, not from divine right. “There is no God,” Bogdan added, reinforcing that the Commission’s legitimacy is contingent on its actions and support.

At the heart of his fury is the Commission’s handling of the ongoing farmer protests that have swept across Europe. From France to Poland, and certainly in Romania, agricultural workers have taken to the streets to protest against stringent environmental regulations (like those in the Green Deal), unfair competition from non-EU imports, and rising operational costs. Bogdan accuses the Commission of offering too little, too late, failing to provide the robust support and understanding the sector desperately needs.

Perhaps the most striking part of Bogdan’s argument was his invocation of ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu. By referencing *The Art of War*, Bogdan elevated the dispute from a simple policy disagreement to a battle of wills and strategy.

“Europe is in a psychological war inspired as if by The Art of War,” he stated. “Sun Tzu said: It is not necessary to physically destroy your enemy, it is enough to destroy his will to fight.”

In this context, Bogdan argues the “enemy” is not a foreign army but the disillusionment and apathy of the European citizenry. He points to “absenteeism” – low voter turnout and a disconnection from the European project – as a critical vulnerability. This vacuum, he warns, is precisely what populists and extremists are eager to fill.

His ultimatum is clear: if the EU’s agricultural policies lead to widespread farmer unemployment and despair, the political landscape will be irrevocably altered. “If the plans regarding agriculture send farmers into unemployment, the next Parliament and implicitly the Commission will look very different,” Bogdan warned.

This is a direct threat that the June 2029 European elections could see a massive shift toward more radical, Eurosceptic parties, fundamentally altering the balance of power in Brussels and potentially costing von der Leyen a second term.

President von der Leyen and the Commission have indeed been scrambling to address the farmers’ concerns, recently rolling back some environmental mandates and proposing new measures to shield farmers from international market shocks. However, for MEPs like Bogdan and the constituents they represent, these steps are perceived as insufficient concessions, not a genuine re-evaluation of policy.

Bogdan’s rebellion signals a growing fear within traditional centrist parties: that the EU’s overarching strategies, however well-intentioned, are alienating their core voters. The farmer, a symbol of tradition, hard work, and national identity for many, has become the focal point of a much larger cultural and economic struggle over the soul and direction of the European Union.

The fiery words of Rareș Bogdan are less an isolated outburst and more a stark preview of the intense political battles to come. The Commission is indeed playing with fire, and the sparks are already flying. 

By Paul Bumman