Ursula von der Leyen

Women have often been historically excluded from politics–especially in chief positions of power. However, one woman changed this, permanently making a mark on German and European political history. Her name is Ursula von der Leyen, and she became the first woman to serve in two vital positions: the German minister of defense and the president of the European Commission.
It was in 2013 that Leyen assumed her role as the German minister of defense. She has made history as the first woman to take this position. There were various conflicts and issues from 2014 to 2018 relating to Leyen’s field of defense. She generally advocated for a strong defense from Germany. During this period, she publicly advocated for asylum seekers and made efforts to make public opinion more positive and welcoming rather than hostile towards said seekers.
In December 2019, Leyen became the first woman to serve as the president of the European Commission. Similar to the significance of her role as minister of defense, her gender, with events throughout her presidency, marked the term as key. Of course, seeing the date she assumed her role, there is one main issue: COVID-19. Leyen handled the virus similarly to the U.S., as the European Commission ordered a quarantine and acquired vaccinations for the virus (however, the acquisition of these vaccines is debated). The European Commission handled the pandemic as efficiently and effectively as they saw fit. Another main issue that Leyen faced during her term was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Throughout the war, Leyen and the Commission did all that they could to support Ukraine and go against Russia’s actions. Whether providing financial support to Ukrainians or limiting commerce with Russia, Leyen led the Commission to support Ukraine in this difficult time. Leyen’s presidency was eventful, and her responses to influential events were discussed and analyzed, often supported by other leaders.
Funnily enough, despite her admirable political prowess, Leyen did not always see herself as a future public servant. Her pre-political goal was in an entirely different field: medicine (specifically gynecology, at first). Leyen was incredibly talented in this area, as she achieved a doctorate. Furthermore, she studied and succeeded in various other areas of medicine. So, for a decent amount of time, Leyen’s future did not appear to lead to politics. However, after viewing her accomplishments and actions as president, it seems she made the right choice in pursuing government.

Source

Petrikowski, Nicki Peter. “Ursula von der Leyen”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 May. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ursula-von-der-Leyen. Accessed 15 May 2023.