Ursula von der Leyen
The first female President of the European Commission, who has been criticised for the EU’s response to Covid-19 and blamed for a delay in getting people vaccinated.
Brexit, Coronavirus and now ‘Sofagate’. It's been a challenging year for the first female President of the European Commission, who’s been criticised for the EU’s response to Covid-19 and blamed for a delay in getting people jabbed. Now, the organisation she heads is suing vaccine manufacturer, AstraZeneca, over delays in supplying doses. This week, she told the European parliament how she'd been left standing during a recent meeting in Turkey, because she is a woman. Her male counterparts took the only chairs available. Mark Coles profiles the Brussels-born German politician whose passion for the job means she lives, works and sleeps in the office.
Presenter: Mark Coles
Producer: Sally Abrahams
Editor: Alex Lewis
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 1 May 2021 19:00Â鶹Éç Radio 4
- Sun 2 May 2021 05:45Â鶹Éç Radio 4
- Sun 2 May 2021 17:40Â鶹Éç Radio 4
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Profile
An insight into the character of an influential figure making news headlines