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Ursula von der LeyenGerman and pan-European politician
Date of Birth: 08.10.1958
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Ursula von der Leyen: A German and European Politician
- Political Career
- Presidency of the European Commission
- Family and Background
Ursula von der Leyen: A German and European Politician
Early Life and EducationUrsula von der Leyen was born in Brussels, Belgium, on 1 December 1958, to German politician Ernst Albrecht. As the daughter of the former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, von der Leyen comes from a prominent political family.
In 1971, von der Leyen's family moved to Hannover, Germany. She completed her secondary education in 1977 and went on to study economics at the Universities of Göttingen and Münster. In 1978, she attended the London School of Economics and Political Science. Inspired by her father's medical training, von der Leyen switched to studying medicine at the Hannover Medical School, graduating in 1987 with a Doctor of Medicine degree.
Political Career
Von der Leyen joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 1990. In 2003, she was elected to the Lower Saxony Parliament and served as Minister for Social Affairs, Women's Affairs, Family, and Health from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, she was appointed Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women, and Youth under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Von der Leyen was elected to the Bundestag in the 2009 federal elections. In November 2009, she replaced Franz Josef Jung as Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs. She was considered a potential candidate for the CDU/CSU and FDP in the 2010 German presidential election but was ultimately not selected.
In 2013, von der Leyen became the first woman to hold the position of German Minister of Defence. During her tenure, she expanded the role of the Bundeswehr in international missions and promoted gender equality in the military.
Presidency of the European Commission
On 1 December 2019, Ursula von der Leyen became the first female President of the European Commission. She was nominated by the European Council and elected by the European Parliament.
As President of the European Commission, von der Leyen has led the EU's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the climate crisis. She has also been a vocal advocate for gender equality, rule of law, and European integration.
Family and Background
Ursula von der Leyen is married to Heiko von der Leyen, a professor of medicine. They have seven children together.
Von der Leyen is a descendant of the Russian Baron Ludwig Knop, who founded the Kreenholm Manufacturing Company in Estonia. Her family's business legacy has played a significant role in her political career.
