As the 2024 European Parliament elections approach, the spotlight is on Ursula von der Leyen, the current President of the European Commission and the Spitzenkandidatin for the European People’s Party (EPP). Her PartyParty profile below explores her life, achievements, and the challenges she faces as she seeks re-election.
Who is Ursula von der Leyen?
Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen was born on October 8, 1958, in Brussels, Belgium. As the daughter of Ernst Albrecht, a European Commission official and later the Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, her exposure to politics began early. She is fluent in German, French, and English, embodying the multicultural spirit of Europe.
Von der Leyen pursued her undergraduate studies in economics at the University of Göttingen and later switched to medicine, earning her degree from Hanover Medical School. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health. This diverse academic background has equipped her with a deep understanding of economic, healthcare, and social issues, shaping her nuanced approach to policy-making.
Five interesting facts about her life
- Undercover in the UK: In response to threats from the Red Army Faction, von der Leyen lived under the alias “Rose Ladson” in the UK during her studies in the late 1970s.
- Historical ties in the USA: Her family has historical connections to a plantation in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Family life: She is a mother to seven children, a rarity among high-ranking politicians.
- Noble lineage: She is part of the European aristocracy, descending from Carl Albrecht who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909.
- Medical career: Before her political career, von der Leyen was a practising medical doctor
Career highlights and political milestones
Von der Leyen’s political career began in the late 1990s with her election to the Lower Saxony state parliament. She held several ministerial posts in Germany, including as Federal Minister of Family Affairs, where she advocated for progressive policies such as expanded child care and parental leave. As Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, she championed minimum wage laws and pension reforms. Her tenure as Germany’s Minister of Defence was marked by efforts to modernise the armed forces and increase defence spending.
As President of the European Commission since 2019, von der Leyen has led significant initiatives across a range of critical areas. Under her leadership, the European Union has made strides in digitalisation, environmental sustainability, and healthcare. The European Green Deal and the Digital Europe programme are two flagship initiatives that have been pushed forward under her presidency. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her administration was crucial in coordinating the EU’s response, including the procurement of vaccines and fostering a collective recovery strategy.
Securing the 2024 nomination
Speculation that von der Leyen would announce her bid for re-election started early in the year. They were confirmed when she officially announced her intention to seek re-election. This early announcement set the stage for her campaign, positioning her already as a central figure of the upcoming elections.
On March 7, 2024, at the EPP Congress in Bucharest, she was confirmed as the party’s lead candidate, receiving a robust endorsement with 400 votes in favour and 89 against, translating to 82 percent support from the delegates. This strong backing marked a significant step in her re-election campaign, setting the stage for a continuation of her policies at the helm of the European Commission.
Her nomination is particularly interesting due to the fact that in 2019, she controversially bypassed the Spitzenkandidaten process. The system was designed so that leading candidates from major political groups could compete for the presidency and make the appointment seem more democratic. Instead, with no majority secured for initial frontrunners, like Manfred Weber and Frans Timmermans, the European Council chose von der Leyen as a compromise candidate.
This move highlighted the need for flexibility within the nominating process, acknowledging that the Council and Parliament must adapt to political realities to ensure effective governance.
Campaign strategies and voter appeal
Ursula von der Leyen’s tenure as President of the European Commission gives her an advantage when it comes to experience and deep understanding of the EU’s institutional operations and policy frameworks. The continuity of her leadership might be viewed by some voters as very important in the context of current geopolitics, where seasoned governance is seen as invaluable for European security and stability.
Von der Leyen has also been instrumental in championing significant EU initiatives such as the European Green Deal and the Digital Europe programme. These initiatives align with the concerns of a broad spectrum of voters. Her effective management of the EU’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement strategy and call for European unity when it comes to support for Ukraine further solidifies her reputation as a leader capable of handling crisis situations.
Being the Spitzenkandidat for the largest party in the European Parliament, her campaign skillfully distancing her from far-right and far-left groups, while appealing to right-wing factions like the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), is increasing her chances of forming a majority. Her focus on defence, the rule of law, and European integration appeals to both centrist and conservative voters, effectively broadening her electoral base.
So far, Von der Leyen’s campaign strategy involved carefully selected, low-profile appearances rather than extensive public engagements, aiming to maximise impact while minimising the risks of direct confrontations and intense media scrutiny. This approach has drawn criticism and pressure from the European Green Party for lack of engagement in public debates with other Spitzenkandidaten, emphasising the importance of leader accountability. Ultimately, Ursula von der Leyen confirmed her participation in the Maastricht debate on April 29, 2024, after initial hesitations. This could score her some attendance points and help her afterwards to continue navigating the campaign more comfortably and with a controlled presence.
Main challenges and controversies
While her presence in Maastricht allows voters to hear from all key candidates about their EU visions, if this debate remains von der Leyen’s sole close engagement, opposing parties might score points by criticising her distant campaign approach again. She will need to balance her debate participation with controlled public appearances effectively.
Her campaign has also been marred by a cronyism scandal, named “Piepergate”, involving the appointment of Markus Pieper as the EU Commission’s first envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises. Pieper, a member of von der Leyen’s CDU party and an MEP since 2004, was appointed despite being outperformed by two female candidates in the selection process. This €17,000-per-month appointment,, poses a significant challenge to von der Leyen’s re-election efforts, casting a shadow over her leadership. After the issue became an embarrassment for the EPP, Pieper resigned just before he was due to take up the job.
The road ahead: 2024 elections outlook
Ironically, although her campaign for Commission President is more transparent than four years ago, it remains controversial. Some still view it as a challenge to the democratic principles the Spitzenkandidat system aimed to uphold, because she was nominated as a Spitzenkandidat without running for a parliamentary seat. This means citizens cannot directly vote for her.
There are also concerns that von der Leyen might use the position of Commission President to campaign for herself and her party across member states, potentially skewing the campaign’s fairness.
While she remains the candidate to beat, von der Leyen’s path to reelection is fraught with obstacles. An important factor is the non-binding nature of the Spitzenkandidaten system, still hinging on political negotiations among EU leaders from different political families. This adds an element of uncertainty to her reappointment, despite her party’s strong performance in polls.
Currently, she is gaining traction among the conservative voter base, helped by the fractioned liberal and progressive voter base. However, if the liberals, greens, and social-democrats present a more united front, it could dramatically shift the campaign dynamics. And while there are voters who feel a continuity in leadership of the Commission is good for Europe, there are certainly others who are hoping for a change.
