Related: Raw: EPO Was Forewarned About the Investigative Unit (IU) Turning Against Law-Abiding Dissent Using Illegal Surveillance

Summary: Further contributing to the atmosphere of fear, the EPO's management increases the level of surveillance on the premises

"The present situation is a state of shock," Märpel wrote on Saturday ("the Shock Doctrine"). To quote a portion:

This was about the past, how President Battistelli managed to raise its power and to render each and every controlling instance moot. Märpel shall come back to that.

But what is the present situation?

The present situation is a state of shock. Maybe President Battistelli is trying to put into practice the Shock Doctrine? Formalities have been reorganised, examiners put in a state of permanent urgency.

Märpel deplores that everyone forgets formality officers. In truth they are an essential part of the office. The procedures are complex and many, with EP, PCT and national searches. Every error has legal consequences. This is an area of specialists. Or actually, it was an area of specialists till the last reorganisation. Now, everyone is supposed to do every possible procedure, without any training. The training budget was exactly zero.