Pandora Papers revelations hit their mark, world panics as Facebook goes dark, and not much happened in Brdo apart from the snark.
Another week, another leak… or to be more precise a massive investigation by international journalists to discover the inner workings of a shadow economy that benefits the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of everyone else.
NEW: #PandoraPapers reveals the inner workings of a shadow economy that benefits the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of everyone else.
Brought to you by ICIJ and 600+ journalists, the largest collaboration in journalism history. 🧵 https://t.co/qXMuUcqPc4
— ICIJ (@ICIJorg) October 3, 2021
Yes indeed the Pandora Papers were front page news and MEP Assistant reckons politicians were heartbroken that something like this could even happen.
Live reaction to the #PandoraPaper leak, politicians heartbroken that something like this could even happen. pic.twitter.com/IZvSF6FQUU
— mepassistant (@mepassistants) October 4, 2021
The news was particularly bad for Czech PM Andrej Babiš as his secret wealth was revealed just five days before the Czech parliamentary elections, reported Aneta Zachová. Of course, Babiš denied any wrongdoing and blamed the Czech mafia for the offshore data leak.
Czech PM Andrej Babiš was among the world leaders whose secret wealth was revealed in the Pandora Papers leak. Only five days before the Czech parliamentary elections, Babiš denied any wrongdoing and blamed the Czech mafia for the offshore data leak.https://t.co/mh1p0ihNWz
— Aneta Zachová (@AnetaZachova) October 4, 2021
I have never done anything illegal or wrong, but that does not prevent them from trying to denigrate me again and influence the Czech parliamentary elections, he tweeted.
No a je to tady. Čekal jsem, co na mě těsně před volbami vytáhnou, aby mě poškodili a ovlivnili české volby. Neexistuje žádná kauza, kterou by na mě mohli vytáhnout za dobu, co jsem v politice.
— Andrej Babiš (@AndrejBabis) October 3, 2021
Martini Seltzermayr suggested his new election slogan should be Yes, We Cannes!
Andrej Babiš’ new election slogan: Yes, We Cannes https://t.co/BEixKLX0o9
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) October 5, 2021
After it was revealed he moved $22 million through offshore companies to buy a lavish estate in France.
This week we are supported by the Coppieters Foundation, a think tank focusing on European affairs. Next week their Coppieters Awards ceremony will honour Jill Rhondda and Nelly Maes. Stay tuned using the hashtag #CoppietersAwards21!
Next week is our Coppieters Awards ceremony honouring @JillRhondda and Nelly Maes in Brussels 🏆
With these awards, we will recognise their lifelong work for self-determination for 🏴 and Flanders
Stay tuned using the hashtag #CoppietersAwards21!https://t.co/sXVR5pDHTs
— Coppieters Foundation (@IdeasForEurope) October 6, 2021
It’s worth noting that the Pandora Papers were overshadowed by another event this week…
Yup, the world came crashing to a halt as Facebook and its associated services went dark for several hours.
What a timely distraction 😉#PandoraPapers#facebookdown pic.twitter.com/nhuNL80L35
— Fatima Ehsan ul Haq (@fatima__ehsan) October 6, 2021
With #FacebookDown trending on Twitter, Max Schrems – the man who took on the social network over privacy violations – snarked: “Hey, for the first time in years they seem to be #GDPR compliant. I think there would be less extreme ways to do it, but won’t complain.”
..but hey, for the first time in years they seem to be #GDPR compliant – I think there would be less extreme ways to reach compliance, but won't complain..
— Max Schrems 🇪🇺 (@maxschrems) October 4, 2021
Commission VP Margrethe Vestager said the outage tells us two things: 1, we need alternatives & choices in the #tech market, and must not rely on a few big players. And 2 that sometimes, there’s nothing better than talking to each other.
#facebookdown tells 2 things :
1/ we need alternatives & choices in the #tech market, and must not rely on a few big players, whoever they are => that's the aim of #DMA
2/ that sometimes, there’s nothing better than talking to each other… just on the phone or … offline😊— Margrethe Vestager (@vestager) October 5, 2021
As if #facebookdown wasn’t bad enough for @Facebook. Now they receive unwelcome attention of Vestager on top of it, pointed out Miika Blinn.
As if #facebookdown wasn't bad enough for @Facebook. Now they receive unwelcome attention of @vestager on top of it. https://t.co/4vAfWEA3vi
— Miika Blinn 🟩⬜️⬛️ (@MiiBlinn) October 6, 2021
Even Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton, weighed in: In the global digital space, everyone could experience a shutdown. Europeans deserve a better digital resilience, which he described as a work in progress.
In the global digital space, everyone could experience a shutdown ⚫️
Europeans deserve a better digital #resilience via regulation, fair competition, stronger connectivity and cybersecurity.
Work in progress.#DSA #DMA #EUCyberResilienceAct pic.twitter.com/DfmSpzs1tz
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 4, 2021
Watch this space.
Finally this week, it was news, but not as we know it as All 27 EU leaders gathered in Brdo to discuss enlargement and…. Nothing happened. It rained apparently.
Whoever’s in charge of the weather in Brdo did a great job – perfect atmosphere for this pointless summit moaned Toby Vogel.
Whoever's in charge of the weather in Brdo did a great job – perfect atmosphere for this pointless summit
— Toby Vogel (@tobyvogel) October 6, 2021
Is Summit fatigue a recognized clinical condition, and when will journalists get health coverage for it? Asked Una Hajdari.
Is Summit fatigue a recognized clinical condition, and when will journalists get health coverage for it?
— Una Hajdari (@UnaHajdari) October 6, 2021
Markus Preiss quoted a colleague:
“Like Woodstock. Just without sex and rock’n’roll.”
Ich zitiere einen Kollegen:
„Wie Woodstock. Nur ohne Sex and Rock‘n‘Roll.“ #euco #brdo 🇸🇮 🌧 pic.twitter.com/PZFHo1pXAR
— Markus Preiß (@markuspreiss) October 6, 2021
Strategic autonomy is great, an umbrella is greater added Diego Velazquez.
Strategic autonomy is great, an umbrella is greater #Brdo #EUCO
— diego velazquez (@diego_bxl) October 6, 2021
Even Le Chou was left to imagine bizarre Squid Game scenarios…
EU Sets One FINAL Enlargement Test For Western Balkan Membership Candidates pic.twitter.com/pYKn7H44JZ
— Le Chou (@LeChouNews) October 6, 2021
No, me neither… maybe it was a bit of a damp Squib Game?
Finally, Tanja Milevska envies people who associate the word enlargement with penis size and not the EU.
I envy people who associate the world enlargement to penis size and not the EU
— Tanja M (@MilevskaTanja) October 6, 2021
You and me both!