Ursula von der Leyen has already had an impressive career. After she traded in her job as an assistant doctor for politics, things went steeply uphill. But what about her private life?
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In fact, the head of the European commission seems to have a fulfilling private life despite long working days. Since 1986, she has been happily married to a medical doctor - and in the meantime also an entrepreneur. They have seven children.
So it came as little surprise when Ursula von der Leyen was appointed Family Minister under Chancellor Angela Merkel. But she also held other ministries before moving to Brussels. Germans will probably remember her time as Defence Minister most intensely - and not necessarily in the best sense.
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Youth, education and women's rights
Politics have played a central role in Ursula von der Leyen's life since childhood - her father was already a successful politician. As she herself explained in several interviews, politics was talked about a lot at home and she herself attended a European school before studying economics and then medicine.
Von der Leyen herself is also a fervent and passionate advocate for women's rights, and has even set up her own network for this purpose. Like her, other women should also have the opportunity to have a career and a family if they want to.
During state visits to other countries, she also tries to find room for manoeuvre for her delegations - especially for her female staff.
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This article has been translated from Oh!MyMag DE.
Sources used:
SWP: Ursula von der Leyen: Alle Infos zur Chefin der EU-Kommission im Porträt
Focus: Ursula von der Leyen: Familie, Vermögen, Kinder und Kritik
