European Commission elects first female president

Ursula von der Leyen, newly elected President of the European Commission (EC). Photo:Standard.

With 383 votes in favor, 327 against and 22 abstentions, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission (EC) on the evening of July 16. Ms. der Leyen will run the highest executive body of the European Union (EU), which sets political direction, proposes laws, manages the budget and is responsible for enforcing EU law, from November 1.

In her speech shortly after her election, the new EC President called for a "united and strong Europe", wanted Europe to be the world's first climate-neutral continent and proposed a "green deal" to reduce the EU's carbon emissions by 2050. Ms. von der Leyen also mentioned gender equality and pledged to enshrine violence against women in EU law.

In a letter to the European Parliament's Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Ms. Von der Leyen said she would propose a "new pact on migration and asylum" to share the burden with member states, and plans to increase the size of the EU border force (EU Frontex) to 10,000 staff by 2024.

Ms. von der Leyen, 60, was born in Brussels, Belgium. She has seven children and was a doctor before entering politics, and is also a longtime ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In 2009, she was Germany's Minister of Labor and Social Affairs. In 2013, she was appointed Germany's Minister of Defense.

German Chancellor Merkel congratulated the new EC president, expressing hope to "work well" with von der Leyen as a "new partner" in Brussels. Von der Leyen's predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker, will step down on October 31, after five years in the post.