Ursula von der Leyen is seeking a second term as the EU's top official

“Who should I call if I want to call Europe?”

The answer to the famous question – attributed to Henry Kissinger, but probably apocryphal – has become easier to answer in the past four years than ever before: you call Ursula von der Leyen.

Ms von der Leyen, president of the European Commission since 2019, has emerged as the face of Europe's response to major crises, announcing on Monday that she would seek a second five-year term.

Given her strong record in leading Europe's 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 chosen but decided during negotiations between the leaders of the European Union.

Another term for Ms von der Leyen would provide continuity for the bloc, which could also expect her to further expand the authority of her position even beyond her duties to oversee the 32,000-strong European Commission, the executive branch of the EU, which is responsible for drawing up laws and policies for the 27 member states.

The first woman to hold this position, Ms von der Leyen, has already used the resources at her disposal to guide the EU through crises and has entered the stage that the role offers to be one of the most to become visible leaders who have held this position.

Who is she and what has she done?

Ms von der Leyen, a German gynecologist and conservative politician, had a mixed record as a minister in former Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party. But she has emerged as a trusted figure in the EU's byzantine workings

For President Biden, who often calls her simply Ursula, Ms. von der Leyen, 65, has been the go-to person to coordinate EU-U.S. policy.

Ms von der Leyen led Europe's response to the pandemic, even though health policy has traditionally been the province of national governments. Initially lagging behind Britain and the United States in vaccine rollouts, the EU later caught up and overtook other major world powers, winning particular praise for its handling of the crisis.

Ms von der Leyen struck a major deal with Pfizer for Covid vaccines, which was welcomed as a breakthrough, although criticized for not being transparent. The terms of the contracts, including what EU citizens paid for them, have never been revealed.

The New York Times has sued the European Commission as part of a freedom of information request seeking access to text messages Ms von der Leyen exchanged with Pfizer's CEO about securing the Covid 19 vaccine deal. The lawsuit is pending before the European Court. It is one of the more serious shadows Ms. von der Leyen faces when it comes to her record.

After Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago, it turned itself and the EU into a steadfast ally of the United States, spearheading sanctions against Russia and providing military and other assistance to Ukraine.

The EU has cut off most Russian energy supplies as Ms von der Leyen pushed member states to jointly purchase natural gas from alternative sources to try to cope with rising energy costs. This effort has largely worked and has left EU countries closer than ever when it comes to energy policy.

She was an advocate for the bloc's expansion eastward, to include Ukraine and Moldova, as well as some Balkan states. And in a recent one interview Together with the Financial Times, she suggested that the EU should increase investment in its own defense, in the wake of former President Donald Trump's comments about NATO and the United States' commitment to it.

What is the criticism against her?

Under Ms von der Leyen's watch, human rights groups have decried the strengthening of the EU's external borders against migrants, sometimes even tolerating violent countermeasures from some EU countries, especially Greece, which have been carried out with impunity. She has also led the union's efforts to reach deals with emerging autocracies such as Tunisia to keep migrants away and Azerbaijan to obtain natural gas, they say.

Most recently, Ms. von der Leyen was criticized by staff members and some EU leaders for her unconditional support for Israel. She has said that Israeli operations in Gaza are in accordance with the right of self-defense, and has not made any comments suggesting that Israel should show restraint as civilian casualties in Gaza have risen.

Thousands of EU staffers have written at least three letters of complaint about her position on the conflict, and she has clashed with her top diplomatic official and some EU leaders, who say she is too supportive of Israel to represent the bloc.

What happens now?

Ms von der Leyen will most likely secure a second term as President of the European Commission, but the selection process has not even started yet. While Monday's announcement means she is the chosen candidate for the position of Europe's mainstream conservative movement, other political groups – such as the Greens and Social Democrats – will put forward their own candidates.

The balance of power between these political movements will be measured during the European Parliament elections in early June, which will take place in all 27 EU countries. Ms von der Leyen's political alliance is currently leading the polls.

After the elections, EU leaders will begin negotiations to determine a number of top positions, including the President of the European Council – normally a former national leader whose job is to organize and lead meetings of EU heads of government and build consensus achieve – and the head of the European Council. the European External Action Service, the bloc's diplomatic corps.

But the role of President of the European Commission is widely regarded as the most important and prestigious.

If everything goes relatively smoothly, all new jobs will be filled by the end of this year.

Christopher F. Schuetze contributed reporting from Berlin.