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Ursula von der Leyen: Merkel ally taking on EU top job Ursula von der Leyen: First woman to lead the EU
(2 months later)
Ursula von der Leyen may have been hoping for a smooth start when she replaces Jean-Claude Juncker in the European Union's top job, but a row over one of her appointments has put paid to that. "For me, it's like coming home," said Ursula von der Leyen of her new job as president of the European Commission. Brussels born and bred, she is a former German defence minister, a long-term ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, and the first woman to head the EU's powerful executive.
The German defence minister, a long-time close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel, had been due to take over as Commission president on 1 November. However, three weeks earlier her candidate for a key post was overwhelmingly rejected by the European Parliament. Mrs von der Leyen replaced Jean-Claude Juncker in the EU's top job on 1 December 2019 and part of her role will be to see through Brexit.
It was an especially bitter blow as the candidate, Sylvie Goulard, is her personal friend, and had been nominated by French President Emmanuel Macron. Since taking office she has warned that talks over the bloc's future relationship with Britain face a "cliff-edge situation" that would "impact more on the UK" and has suggested, if necessary, agreeing an extension to the December 2020 deadline.
She was to have been the commissioner responsible for the EU's internal market, industrial policy and defence. But she was not the first choice for the job. She was not especially popular in her previous role among Germany's armed forces, and only emerged from the shadows as a candidate for Commission chief when initial compromise deals collapsed.
The decision, along with the rejection of Hungarian and Romanian nominees, means Mrs von der Leyen's own inauguration could be delayed by up to a month. Eventually she was nominated by EU member states and then backed by the European Parliament.
Mrs von der Leyen has not been well-loved by Germany's armed forces and her record has not been without its failures. Her responsibilities include proposing new EU laws, enforcing the bloc's rules and handling trade deals.
And yet, she emerged from the shadows, nominated by EU member states and backed by the European Parliament for the top job, after initial compromise deals collapsed. Mrs von der Leyen has a reputation as a workaholic. Her decision to sleep in a bedsit adjoining her office at the Commission HQ rather than making a home in Brussels has also raised eyebrows.
She 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.
She has a reputation as a workaholic. Her decision to sleep in a bedsit adjoining her office at the Commission HQ rather than making a home in Brussels has also raised eyebrows.
Where does she stand on the big issues?Where does she stand on the big issues?
Ahead of the European Parliament vote, she twice set out her values: She set out her values both prior to and after assuming office:
So what's her background? 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, Ursula von der Leyen's 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.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 birth rate is 1.59 children per woman. Now 61, Mrs von der Leyen is the mother of seven children, highly unusual in a country where the average birth rate 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 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 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 was not without incident.
What's her record as defence minister? What was 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. While her appointment was initially seen as a fresh start for a German ministry beset by problems, Mrs von der Leyen was 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.
That period of her career has not gone away. In December 2019, German MPs accused the defence ministry of deliberately deleting key data from her office mobile phone in an attempt to obstruct their investigation.