Early Life And Education

Ursula von der Leyen: Former German Family Minister

Early Life and Education

Ursula von der Leyen was born in Brussels, Belgium, on October 8, 1958. She is the daughter of Ernst Albrecht, a former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, and Heidi Homeyer, a painter. Von der Leyen studied medicine at the Hannover Medical School, graduating in 1987. She then worked as a doctor at the Krankenhaus Großburgwedel, a hospital in Lower Saxony.

Political Career

Von der Leyen entered politics in 1990, when she was elected to the Lower Saxony State Parliament. She served in the government of Lower Saxony from 1994 to 2003, holding the positions of Minister of Social Affairs, Women, and Family and Minister of Health. In 2003, she was appointed Federal Minister of Family Affairs and Youth by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

In 2009, Von der Leyen was appointed Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs by Chancellor Angela Merkel. She served in this role until 2013, when she was appointed Federal Minister of Defence.

Von der Leyen was the first woman to hold the position of Federal Minister of Defence. She served in this role until 2019, when she was elected President of the European Commission.

Personal Life

Von der Leyen is married to Heiko von der Leyen, a professor of medicine. They have seven children.