Ursula von der Leyen
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| Ursula von der Leyen | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Office | President of the European Commission |
| Term start | 2019 |
| Predecessor | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Birth date | 1958 |
| Birth place | Brussels, Belgium |
| Nationality | German |
| Spouse | Heiko von der Leyen |
| Alma mater | University of Göttingen, London School of Economics, Hannover Medical School |
Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who has been serving as the President of the European Commission since 2019, following her predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker. She is the first woman to hold this position and has been a key figure in European Union politics, working closely with leaders such as Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, and Giuseppe Conte. Von der Leyen has also been involved in various international organizations, including the G7 and the G20, and has participated in significant events like the Munich Security Conference and the World Economic Forum. Her leadership has been influenced by her experiences in Germany, particularly during her time as the Federal Minister of Defence under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
● Early Life and Education
Ursula von der Leyen was born in Brussels, Belgium, and spent her early years in Belgium and Germany, where she developed a strong interest in European integration and politics. She studied economics at the University of Göttingen and later earned a degree in medicine from the Hannover Medical School, which has been affiliated with the University of Oxford and the Harvard University. Von der Leyen also spent time at the London School of Economics, where she was exposed to the ideas of prominent economists like Milton Friedman and Joseph Stiglitz. Her education has been shaped by her experiences at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and she has been influenced by thinkers such as Immanuel Kant and John Rawls.
● Career
Von der Leyen's career in politics began in the 1990s, when she joined the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) and became involved in local politics in Lower Saxony. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a member of the Bundestag in 2005 and later serving as the Federal Minister of Family Affairs under Chancellor Angela Merkel. Von der Leyen's experience in the Bundestag has been shaped by her interactions with politicians like Gerhard Schröder, Franz Müntefering, and Guido Westerwelle. She has also been influenced by her time as the Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, where she worked with organizations like the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization.
● European Commission Presidency
In 2019, von der Leyen was nominated by the European Council to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as the President of the European Commission. She was confirmed by the European Parliament and took office on December 1, 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the position. As President, von der Leyen has been responsible for leading the European Commission and implementing the European Union's policies, working closely with leaders like Charles Michel, David Sassoli, and Christine Lagarde. Her presidency has been marked by significant events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the European migrant crisis, and the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union (Brexit), which has involved negotiations with Boris Johnson, Theresa May, and Michel Barnier.
● Political Positions and Policies
Von der Leyen has been a strong advocate for European integration and has supported policies aimed at strengthening the European Union. She has been a key proponent of the European Green Deal, which aims to make the European Union carbon neutral by 2050, and has worked with leaders like Frans Timmermans and Kadri Simson to implement the deal. Von der Leyen has also been a strong supporter of gender equality and has worked to promote women's rights in the European Union, collaborating with organizations like the European Women's Lobby and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Her policies have been influenced by her experiences in Germany, particularly during her time as the Federal Minister of Defence, where she worked with institutions like the NATO and the European Defence Agency.
● Personal Life
Von der Leyen is married to Heiko von der Leyen, a medical doctor and professor at the Hannover Medical School, and they have seven children together. She is a member of the Protestant Church in Germany and has been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Red Cross and the UNICEF. Von der Leyen has also been recognized for her contributions to European politics and has received awards like the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Order of the White Rose of Finland, which has been awarded to notable figures like Nelson Mandela and Angela Merkel. Her personal life has been shaped by her experiences in Germany, particularly during her time in Hanover, where she has been involved in local politics and has worked with institutions like the University of Hanover and the Hanover Zoo.