--- type: politician_profile lang: en canonical: https://www.politicaelectoral.com/en/european-union/politicians/ursula-von-der-leyen name: Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen partido: ppe updated_at: 2026-05-03T13:17:01 data_crc: 331f685f --- Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen is the President of the European Commission and a leading figure in the European People’s Party (EPP). Born in 1958, she has been a central actor in EU politics since 2019. ## Political career Ursula von der Leyen was born in Brussels in 1958 into a family closely linked to public service and European integration. She studied economics briefly before turning to medicine, later qualifying as a physician. Her early professional life was shaped by both medicine and politics, and she also spent time in the United States, an experience that contributed to her outward-looking political style. Her entry into party politics came through the **Christian Democratic Union (CDU)** in Germany, within the broader centre-right tradition that later connected her to the **European People’s Party**. She first rose to prominence in Lower Saxony, where she built a reputation as a modernising conservative with a particular interest in family policy and labour-market issues. Her federal ministerial career began in **2009**, when she was appointed **Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs** under Chancellor Angela Merkel. In that post, she dealt with labour-market regulation, social security and employment policy during the aftermath of the global financial crisis. The role strengthened her standing as a pragmatic, socially aware conservative. In **2013**, she became **Federal Minister of Defence**, making her the first woman to hold the post in Germany. Her tenure lasted until **2019**. She oversaw efforts to modernise the Bundeswehr, but her time in office was also marked by persistent criticism over equipment shortfalls, procurement delays and the overall state of the armed forces. In **2019**, she was nominated to become **President of the European Commission**, a move that surprised many observers because she had not been a lead candidate in the European Parliament election process. She took office later that year and became the first woman to lead the Commission. In **2024**, she was re-elected to the role, consolidating her position as one of the most influential politicians in the European Union. ## Relationship with the public Von der Leyen’s public relationship is mixed and often highly polarised. At European level, she is recognised as a highly visible executive leader who communicates fluently across capitals and institutions. During major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and debates on industrial policy, she has cultivated an image of hands-on leadership and institutional steadiness. Among parts of the electorate and civil society, she is seen as a figure associated with **European integration**, strategic autonomy and stronger EU coordination. Supporters often value her ability to combine technocratic competence with political ambition. She is also regarded as a skilled communicator who can present complex EU policy in accessible terms. At the same time, she has faced criticism for a sometimes top-down governing style and for the perceived centralisation of power within the Commission presidency. Media scrutiny has often focused on transparency, institutional procedure and the balance between political messaging and bureaucratic accountability. As Germany’s defence minister, she was often criticised domestically for weak delivery and for failing to resolve structural problems in the armed forces quickly enough. As Commission president, criticisms have ranged from concerns about overreach to complaints that she is too cautious in some areas and too interventionist in others. ## Positions and political profile Von der Leyen’s political profile is that of a **pro-European centre-right reformer** with a strong interest in executive authority. She is associated with the EPP’s mainstream conservative-liberal tradition, but her politics often extend beyond classic market-oriented themes. Over time, she has emphasised social protection, gender equality, defence, digital regulation and climate transition alongside economic competitiveness. As Commission president, she has championed a more assertive EU role in areas such as **industrial policy**, **defence cooperation**, **digital regulation**, **migration management** and **green transition policy**. Her Commission launched or advanced major legislative agendas on climate and competition, while also seeking to strengthen Europe’s geopolitical weight. During the war in Ukraine, she became one of the EU’s most visible advocates of sanctions, military assistance and long-term support for Kyiv. She is widely perceived inside the EPP as a politically adaptable figure who can bridge pro-business, Christian democratic and socially moderate constituencies. Outside her party, supporters often regard her as a capable centrist administrator, while critics accuse her of embodying an increasingly centralised and technocratic European Union. In Germany, her ministerial record left a more divided legacy, especially in defence policy, where she was blamed for slow progress on reform. A defining feature of her career has been her ability to remain politically relevant across different institutional levels: German federal government, European executive office and transnational party politics. Another defining moment was her 2019 nomination, which demonstrated how EU leadership can emerge from negotiation between member states and institutions rather than solely from parliamentary election campaigns. ## Frequently asked questions **Who is Ursula von der Leyen?** Ursula von der Leyen is a German politician who has served as President of the European Commission since 2019 and was re-elected in 2024. She is a member of the European People’s Party through Germany’s CDU. **What did Ursula von der Leyen do before the European Commission?** Before leading the Commission, she served as Germany’s Federal Minister of Defence from 2013 to 2019 and as Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from 2009 to 2013. **What party does Ursula von der Leyen belong to?** She belongs to the **European People’s Party (EPP)** at European level and to the **Christian Democratic Union (CDU)** in Germany. **What are Ursula von der Leyen’s main political priorities?** Her priorities have included EU defence cooperation, climate policy, digital regulation, industrial competitiveness, migration management and support for Ukraine. **Why is Ursula von der Leyen controversial?** She has been criticised at times for centralising power, for the political style of her Commission, and for weaknesses associated with her tenure as Germany’s defence minister. **Is Ursula von der Leyen influential in EU politics?** Yes. As President of the European Commission, she is one of the most powerful figures in the European Union and plays a central role in shaping EU legislation and external policy.