“Who do I call if I want to call Europe?”
The answer to the famous question — attributed to Henry Kissinger, but probably apocryphal — has been easier to answer over the past four years than ever before: You call Ursula von der Leyen.
President of the European Commission since 2019, Ms. von der Leyen has emerged as the face of Europe’s response to major crises, and on Monday she announced that she would seek a second five-year term.
Given her strong record steering the European response to both the pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, she is seen as a relatively sure bet to keep the job, which is not elected but decided in negotiations among European Union leaders.
Another term for Ms. von der Leyen would provide continuity for bloc, which could also expect her to further expand the authority of her position, even beyond its duties overseeing the 32,000-strong European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch, which is responsible for drafting laws and policies for the 27 member states.
The first woman to hold the office, Ms. von der Leyen has already used the resources at her disposal to steer the E.U. through crises and has leaned into the stage the role offers to become one of the most visible leaders to have held the position.
Who is she and what has she done?
A German gynecologist and conservative politician, Ms. von der Leyen had a mixed record as a minister in the Christian Democratic Party of former Chancellor Angela Merkel. But she has emerged as a trusted figure in the Byzantine working of the E.U.
