Ursula von der Leyen
- Known for
- President of European Commission, German Federal Minister
- Born in
- Brussels, Belgium
- Education
- MPH, University of Göttingen
Ursula von der Leyen is a centre-right German politician and physician serving as the powerful President of the European Commission since 2019. Her career evolved from a German federal cabinet minister, including a tenure as the first female Minister for Defence, to leading the EU executive. She is a staunch proponent of European integration and has consistently prioritized the Green Deal.
Signature Positions
Von der Leyen’s priorities and actions have defined her tenure as Commission President and previous roles:
- European Integration: Envisions a "United States of Europe" as a long-term goal, advocating for deeper EU coordination in defense and economic policy.
- Ukraine Support: Visited Kyiv following the 2022 invasion, condemning Russia and championing Ukraine's EU membership bid.
- Climate Action: Championed the European Green Deal for climate neutrality by 2050, despite facing criticism over its economic impact and reliance on gas.
- Migration: Supports the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which implements a mandatory solidarity mechanism, while also engaging in controversial deals like the one with Tunisia to curb irregular arrivals.
- Defence Investment: Announced the €800 billion "ReArm Europe" plan to boost EU defense manufacturing, potentially requiring easing of fiscal rules.
Notable Tensions
Von der Leyen's career has involved several notable controversies and political tensions:
- "Pfizergate": Accused of maladministration for failing to disclose SMS correspondence with the Pfizer CEO regarding large vaccine deals, leading to ongoing investigations.
- Israel-Palestine Stance: Criticized by EU staff and diplomats for a pro-Israeli stance during the Gaza war, which some argued undermined the EU's role as a fair broker.
- German Defence Scrutiny: Faced scrutiny in Germany over the "Consultants affair" involving irregularities in awarding ministry contracts and the deletion of data from her official phone.
- Energy Deals: Labeled a hypocrite by some for condemning dictators while signing a major gas supply agreement with Azerbaijan amidst reports of atrocities against Armenia.
Known for her willingness to push social reforms in Germany, she earned the nickname "Zensursula" for advocating internet filtering measures early in her career. Her re-election in 2024 solidified her leadership, demonstrating broad support across the EPP and centrist groups. She has been repeatedly named the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.