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Ursula von der Leyen: Merkel ally nominated for EU top job Ursula von der Leyen: Merkel ally chosen for EU top job
(5 days later)
Ursula von der Leyen's name is unlikely to have cropped up in early conversations as European leaders wrangled over the best candidate to replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.Ursula von der Leyen's name is unlikely to have cropped up in early conversations as European leaders wrangled over the best candidate to replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
A long-time close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany's defence minister is not well-loved by its armed forces and her record is not without its failures. A long-time close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany's defence minister was not well-loved by its armed forces and her record was not without its failures.
And yet, she has emerged from the shadows as the EU member states' nominee for the top job - after initial compromise deals collapsed. And yet, she has emerged from the shadows, nominated by EU members states and backed by the European Parliament for the top job, after initial compromise deals collapsed.
If successful, Mrs von der Leyen would be the first woman to take on the Commission presidency, with responsibilities including proposing new EU laws, enforcing the bloc's rules and handling trade deals. She praised MEPs for placing their confidence in her: "Your confidence in a united and a strong Europe that is ready to fight for the future. It's a big responsibility and the work starts now."
But she needs to secure the backing of more than half of the votes in the 751-member parliament, and some remain unconvinced. On 1 November Mrs von der Leyen will be the first woman to take on the Commission presidency, with responsibilities including proposing new EU laws, enforcing the bloc's rules and handling trade deals.
Where does she stand on the big issues?Where does she stand on the big issues?
Pitching to MEPs ahead of her presidential nomination vote, Mrs von der Leyen outlined her position on some of the main issues facing the bloc: Ahead of the European Parliament vote, she twice set out her values:
So what's her background?So what's her background?
Born in Brussels, her family moved to Germany when she was 13. She studied economics at London's LSE and medicine in Hanover before going into politics.Born in Brussels, her family moved to Germany when she was 13. She studied economics at London's LSE and medicine in Hanover before going into politics.
Fluent in English and French, she has been a member of Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) since 2005.Fluent in English and French, she has been a member of Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) since 2005.
She told the European Parliament that her father, Ernst Albrecht, who was a senior official in Brussels in the 1950s before becoming a German state premier, had always told his children that when countries traded, they built friendships and did not shoot each other.
Now 60, Mrs von der Leyen is the mother of seven children, highly unusual in a country where the average birthrate is 1.59 children per woman.Now 60, Mrs von der Leyen is the mother of seven children, highly unusual in a country where the average birthrate is 1.59 children per woman.
She is seen as a staunch integrationist, backing closer military co-operation in the EU and highlighting earlier this year the "potential Europe has to unify and to promote peace".She is seen as a staunch integrationist, backing closer military co-operation in the EU and highlighting earlier this year the "potential Europe has to unify and to promote peace".
Her appointment as German defence minister in 2013 was unexpected and followed three months of coalition talks between the CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).Her appointment as German defence minister in 2013 was unexpected and followed three months of coalition talks between the CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).
As defence minister in the EU's most industrialised and populous country, she has argued for Germany to boost its military involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).As defence minister in the EU's most industrialised and populous country, she has argued for Germany to boost its military involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
However, her tenure in the defence post has not been without incident.However, her tenure in the defence post has not been without incident.
What's her record as defence minister?What's her record as defence minister?
In recent years, a litany of stories have exposed inadequacies in Germany's armed forces, from inoperable submarines and aircraft to shortages of personnel.In recent years, a litany of stories have exposed inadequacies in Germany's armed forces, from inoperable submarines and aircraft to shortages of personnel.
A report published last year highlighted the shortfalls, saying they were "dramatically" hindering Germany's readiness for combat. It said that no submarines or large transport planes were available for deployment at the end of 2017.A report published last year highlighted the shortfalls, saying they were "dramatically" hindering Germany's readiness for combat. It said that no submarines or large transport planes were available for deployment at the end of 2017.
Last month, two German air force jets were involved in a mid-air collision during a military exercise over north-eastern Germany.Last month, two German air force jets were involved in a mid-air collision during a military exercise over north-eastern Germany.
While her appointment was initially seen as a fresh start for a German ministry beset by problems, Mrs von der Leyen was last year questioned as part of an investigation into spending irregularities.While her appointment was initially seen as a fresh start for a German ministry beset by problems, Mrs von der Leyen was last year questioned as part of an investigation into spending irregularities.
Her defence department was accused of awarding questionable private contracts to consultants that were said to be worth millions of euros.Her defence department was accused of awarding questionable private contracts to consultants that were said to be worth millions of euros.
She later admitted that a number of errors were made in allocating contracts and that new measures were being implemented to prevent it happening again.She later admitted that a number of errors were made in allocating contracts and that new measures were being implemented to prevent it happening again.