#pregnantgrandmother
While her personality and strategy of focusing more on her family may come as a surprise to the Brussels bubble, it is not entirely new for von der Leyen.
Before making his surprise entry into European politics in 2019, the Brussels-born medical doctor’s personality and family life were well-known in German politics. She joined former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s first cabinet as Family Minister in 2005, becoming Labor Minister in 2009. He took over the Defense Ministry in 2014, in what was largely seen as a failure,
Throughout those years, von der Leyen regularly spoke about herself and her family of seven children, especially in her early years as Family Minister. He said opponents criticized him for demonizing his family and using it for his political gain.
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In her early political years, von der Leyen openly discussed As a family minister she was fighting for public daycare, so she had difficulties combining career and parenthood. To this day, improving the ability of mothers to remain in the workforce remains a politically sensitive topic in German society.
In doing so, he likely took inspiration from his father, Ernst Albrecht, an East German politician and top European civil servant who regularly used his family in his campaigns. At one point, he even introduced his family on a TV show to let his wife and his children sing,
It is unlikely that von der Leyen will go that far.
“This is not an American-style presidential campaign,” said a campaign spokesperson, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the campaign. “For example, you won’t see family.”
Still, “Ursula” has a few weeks left to make changes #pregnantgrandmother,