Ursula von der Leyen

Ursula von der Leyen
Born	Ursula Gertrud Albrecht 8 10, 1958
Birthplace	Ixelles, Brussels, Belgium
Occupation	Politician, physician
Title	President of the European Commission
Employer	European Commission
Known for	President of the European Commission
Education	MD, MPH (Hannover Medical School)
Children	7
Awards	Forbes Most Powerful Woman in the World (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Website	[https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner Official site]

Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen (Template:IPA-de; née Albrecht; born 8 October 1958) is a German politician and physician who has served as President of the European Commission since 1 December 2019, becoming the first woman to hold the office. Born in Brussels to a family steeped in European public service, von der Leyen grew up bilingual in German and French before pursuing studies at the University of Göttingen, the London School of Economics, and Hannover Medical School, where she obtained her medical licence. A member of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the affiliated European People's Party (EPP), she served continuously in the federal cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2019 — first as Minister for Family Affairs and Youth, then as Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, and finally as Minister for Defence, the first woman to hold that portfolio in Germany. She was re-elected as President of the European Commission by the European Parliament on 18 July 2024 with 401 votes, securing an absolute majority. Forbes named her the most powerful woman in the world in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

Early Life

Ursula Gertrud Albrecht was born on 8 October 1958 in Ixelles, a municipality in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was one of the first European civil servants, working for the institutions that would evolve into the European Union. Growing up in Brussels, she was raised bilingually in German and French, an upbringing that would later inform her multilingual fluency and her deep familiarity with European institutions.

In 1971, when Ursula was thirteen years old, the family relocated to Germany after her father became involved in German politics. Ernst Albrecht went on to become the Minister-President of Lower Saxony, serving from 1976 to 1990, a position that placed the Albrecht family at the centre of conservative German political life. Growing up in a household where politics and European governance were constant topics of discussion shaped von der Leyen's later career trajectory, although she initially pursued a path in medicine rather than public office.

The family's background in European public service and German state politics provided von der Leyen with an unusual combination of international perspective and domestic political grounding. Her formative years in Brussels, followed by her adolescence and young adulthood in Germany, gave her a dual sensibility — European in outlook yet anchored in the traditions of German Christian Democratic politics — that would become a defining feature of her political identity.

Education

Von der Leyen's academic career spanned multiple institutions and disciplines across Europe. She studied at the University of Göttingen before enrolling at the London School of Economics, from which she graduated in 1978. She subsequently pursued medical studies at the Hannover Medical School (Medizinische Hochschule Hannover), where she acquired her medical licence in 1987. She also obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Hannover Medical School, reflecting an interest in public health policy that bridged her medical training and her later governmental work.

Her educational path — encompassing economics in London, general studies in Göttingen, and medicine in Hannover — was notably broad and international for a German politician of her generation. The period at the London School of Economics in particular provided her with English-language proficiency and exposure to Anglo-Saxon economic thinking, complementing the Franco-German bilingualism of her childhood.

Career

Early Political Involvement and Lower Saxony

After marrying fellow physician Heiko von der Leyen, Ursula von der Leyen lived with her family in the United States for four years during the 1990s. Upon returning to Germany, she became involved in local politics in the Hanover region in the late 1990s, following the well-established political path of her father's CDU network in Lower Saxony.

Her entry into state-level government came in 2003, when she was appointed Minister for Social Affairs, Women, Families, and Health in the state government of Lower Saxony under Minister-President Christian Wulff. She served in this capacity from 4 March 2003 to 22 November 2005, succeeding Gitta Trauernicht in the role. During this period, she also served as a member of the Landtag of Lower Saxony for the constituency of Lehrte, holding that seat from 4 March 2003 to 7 December 2005. Her relatively rapid ascent from local political involvement to state cabinet minister reflected both her family connections within the CDU and her own growing profile as a politician with professional credentials in medicine and public health.

Federal Minister for Family Affairs and Youth (2005–2009)

When Angela Merkel formed her first federal government following the 2005 Bundestag election, von der Leyen was appointed Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, a position she held from 22 November 2005 to 30 November 2009. She succeeded Renate Schmidt in the post and was herself succeeded by Kristina Schröder.

In this role, von der Leyen became one of the most prominent members of Merkel's cabinet and a nationally recognized figure. She championed the expansion of childcare provision in Germany and advocated for policies designed to improve the reconciliation of work and family life — positions that were sometimes controversial within her own conservative party. Her proposals for expanding state-subsidized childcare places and introducing a parental leave allowance (Elterngeld) represented a significant shift in CDU family policy, moving away from the traditional conservative model in which mothers were expected to remain at home with children.

During her tenure as Family Minister, von der Leyen also became involved in the contentious debate over internet regulation, particularly regarding the blocking of websites containing child sexual abuse imagery. She advocated for legislation that would require internet service providers to block access to such sites, a proposal that drew significant criticism from internet freedom advocates and digital rights organizations who argued it amounted to censorship and would be technically ineffective. The legislative effort, which became known colloquially as "Zensursula" (a portmanteau of Zensur, the German word for censorship, and Ursula), provoked a major public debate about digital freedoms in Germany. The blocking law was ultimately passed but was suspended and later repealed under the subsequent government.

Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs (2009–2013)

Following the 2009 federal election, von der Leyen was appointed Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs in Merkel's second cabinet, serving from 30 November 2009 to 17 December 2013. She succeeded Franz Josef Jung and was succeeded by Andrea Nahles. She simultaneously served as a member of the Bundestag for Lower Saxony on the CDU list, a seat she held from 27 October 2009 to 31 July 2019.

As Labour Minister, von der Leyen oversaw German employment policy during a period of notable economic performance. The German labour market proved resilient in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, and unemployment fell during her tenure. She was involved in debates over wage policy, labour market regulation, and the growing discussion about introducing a statutory minimum wage in Germany — a policy that was traditionally opposed by the CDU but which gained increasing public support.

During this period, von der Leyen also rose within the CDU party hierarchy. She was elected as Deputy Leader of the Christian Democratic Union on 15 November 2010, a position she held until 22 November 2019, serving alongside other deputy leaders including Volker Bouffier, Julia Klöckner, Armin Laschet, and Thomas Strobl. She succeeded Christian Wulff in the role and was herself succeeded by Silvia Breher. Her prominence within the party and her national media profile led to widespread speculation that she was among the leading contenders to eventually succeed Merkel as Chancellor of Germany.

Federal Minister for Defence (2013–2019)

On 17 December 2013, von der Leyen was appointed Federal Minister for Defence in Merkel's third cabinet, succeeding Thomas de Maizière. She became the first woman to hold the defence portfolio in German history, a milestone that attracted significant international attention. She served in this role until 17 July 2019, when she was succeeded by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

Von der Leyen's tenure as Defence Minister coincided with a period of heightened geopolitical tension in Europe. The Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine prompted calls for a reassessment of European security policy. Von der Leyen took a notably assertive stance, calling for stronger NATO support in addressing the Ukraine crisis and advocating for increased German defence spending. Her position represented a departure from the more cautious approach that had traditionally characterized German defence policy, and aligned with a broader shift in German foreign policy thinking during this period.

Von der Leyen participated in Armistice Day observances in 2014 alongside French President François Hollande, a symbolic moment reflecting the Franco-German partnership at the heart of European security cooperation. She also engaged in discussions about European defence integration, a subject that included proposals for a collective EU military capability.

During the Ukraine crisis, the broader diplomatic dynamics within Europe were complex, with Chancellor Merkel maintaining direct channels of communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin while simultaneously supporting Western sanctions against Russia.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon described von der Leyen in 2019 as "a star presence" in the NATO community and "the doyenne of NATO ministers for over five years," reflecting the standing she had achieved within the transatlantic security establishment. When she departed the Defence Ministry in 2019, she was the only minister to have served continuously in Merkel's cabinet throughout the chancellor's entire time in office from 2005 to 2019.

However, her time as Defence Minister was not without controversy. The German military, the Bundeswehr, faced persistent problems with equipment readiness and procurement during her tenure, and she was criticized in parliamentary inquiries over the ministry's use of external consultants.

President of the European Commission (2019–present)

First Term (2019–2024)

On 2 July 2019, the European Council proposed von der Leyen as the candidate for President of the European Commission, succeeding Jean-Claude Juncker. Her nomination was unexpected, as she had not been one of the lead candidates (Spitzenkandidaten) put forward by the European political groupings ahead of the 2019 European Parliament elections. The European Parliament elected her on 16 July 2019, and she took office on 1 December 2019, becoming the first woman to serve as President of the European Commission.

Her first term was dominated by a series of unprecedented crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, which struck Europe in early 2020, required the Commission to coordinate an EU-wide response including joint vaccine procurement and the establishment of the NextGenerationEU recovery fund. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 further transformed the geopolitical landscape and became a defining issue of her presidency. In November 2022, von der Leyen announced that her Commission would work to establish an International Criminal Tribunal for the Russian Federation.

Von der Leyen took a strong public stance in support of Ukraine, a position she has maintained consistently. In February 2026, marking the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, she stated on social media: "Tonight, we adorn our European institutions with the colours of Ukraine. Two colours, carrying the spirit of courage. Two colours, burning with resistance. Four years into Russia's full-scale war, these colours are shining brighter than ever." At the Munich Security Conference in February 2026, she addressed the ongoing threat posed by Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the challenges facing European security.

Re-election and Second Term (2024–present)

On 7 March 2024, the European People's Party elected von der Leyen as its Spitzenkandidat to lead the campaign for the 2024 European Parliament elections. On 18 July 2024, the European Parliament re-elected her as President of the European Commission with an absolute majority of 401 votes.

Her second term has been marked by an intensified focus on European economic competitiveness and trade policy. In February 2026, the Commission announced the "One Europe, One Market" strategy, a plan to fully integrate the EU's 27 national economies into a single, more cohesive market. The initiative represented a major push to close the competitiveness gap between the European Union and its major economic rivals.

Trade relations with the United States became a significant challenge during her second term. Following the imposition of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, the European Commission sought to negotiate terms while insisting on adherence to existing trade commitments. In February 2026, after a U.S. court blocked certain Trump administration tariffs, the EU's executive arm requested "full clarity" from the United States, with the Commission's position summarized as "a deal is a deal." The negotiations over tariff levels and their implications for EU-US trade relations drew scrutiny from analysts and commentators.

In January 2026, von der Leyen indicated that the European Union was nearing a historic free trade agreement with India, describing the potential deal as significant for both parties while noting that further work remained to finalize the agreement.

Managing internal Commission dynamics has also been a feature of her second term. In early 2026, she convened her team of European commissioners in an effort to address reported tensions and improve coordination within her top team.

Personal Life

Ursula von der Leyen married Heiko von der Leyen, a fellow physician, and the couple have seven children. The family lived in the United States for four years during the 1990s before returning to Germany. The size of her family has been a recurring topic in German media coverage, particularly in the context of her advocacy for family-friendly policies during her time as Federal Minister for Family Affairs.

Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was a prominent CDU politician who served as Minister-President of Lower Saxony from 1976 to 1990 and was among the first generation of European civil servants. The Albrecht family's deep roots in both European governance and German conservative politics shaped von der Leyen's political environment from childhood.

Von der Leyen has been involved with several civic organizations. She served on the board of trustees of the TOTAL E-QUALITY association, a German organization. She has also been connected to cultural institutions in Hanover, including service as a trustee of the Mädchenchor Hannover foundation.

Recognition

Von der Leyen has received significant international recognition during her career. Forbes magazine named her the most powerful woman in the world for four consecutive years: 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, reflecting her role as the head of the European Commission during a period of major geopolitical upheaval and institutional transformation.

In 2016, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the World Economic Forum, an appointment that reflected her growing international standing during her tenure as German Defence Minister.

During her years as Defence Minister, she was described by British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon as "a star presence" in the NATO community and "the doyenne of NATO ministers for over five years," a characterization that underscored her standing within the transatlantic security establishment. She was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for the position of Secretary General of NATO, particularly after Jens Stoltenberg's tenure, and was considered a leading contender for the role in both 2019 and 2023.

Her position as the first woman to serve as both German Defence Minister and President of the European Commission has been noted as historically significant in European political history.

Legacy

As the first woman to serve as President of the European Commission and the first woman to serve as Germany's Defence Minister, von der Leyen's career represents a series of milestones in European political leadership. Her continuous service in Angela Merkel's federal cabinet from 2005 to 2019 — the only minister to serve throughout the entirety of Merkel's chancellorship — marked her as one of the most durable figures in modern German politics.

Her presidency of the European Commission has coincided with a period of extraordinary challenge for the European Union: the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the resulting energy crisis, rising geopolitical competition with major powers, and complex trade negotiations with the United States under the Trump administration. The Commission's responses to these challenges — including joint vaccine procurement, the NextGenerationEU recovery fund, successive packages of sanctions against Russia, and the "One Europe, One Market" competitiveness strategy — have defined the contours of EU policy during her leadership.

Her background — born in Brussels to a European civil servant father, raised bilingually, educated across three countries, and experienced in both medicine and politics — has been noted as emblematic of a particular kind of European political figure: multilingual, internationally networked, and shaped by the institutions of European integration from an early age. Whether this background has been an advantage or a source of distance from domestic political currents has been a matter of ongoing discussion throughout her career.

Her re-election to a second term as Commission President in 2024 made her one of the longest-serving leaders in the history of the institution, consolidating her position as a central figure in early 21st-century European governance.