European Union leaders pick Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen to lead European Commission

The European Council proposed German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen to become European Commission president, European Council President Donald Tusk said.

Von der Leyen, a member of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives (CDU/CSU), would be the first female Commission president if confirmed by the European Parliament. Her nomination needs an absolute majority of the chamber’s 751 members to be ratified.

Tusk welcomed the gender balance in the nominations for the four top EU jobs: “First and foremost, we have chosen two women and two men for the four key positions. A perfect gender balance. I am really happy about it.”

All four top jobs need to be confirmed by the European Parliament. 

About Ursula von der Leyen
She was born in Brussels in 1958 
She is the only minister in Merkel’s government 
She took office in 2005
She served as family minister, labor minister and under Merkel’s government. 
The Council proposed Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel as president of the European Council.
Josep Borrell Fontelles(Spain) as foreign policy chief. 

About EU commission: 
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium 
Founded: 1 January 1958
It is an institution of the European Union.
It is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions.
It is also upholding the EU treaties and managing the day-to-day business of the EC.