EU executive denies cover-up about President Ursula von der Leyen's health

Brussels—— The European Commission denied on Monday that it had tried to cover up the health of its president Ursula von der Leyen after the bloc's executive chief was hospitalized with severe pneumonia.

Von der Leyen, 66, is the European Union's most high-profile political figure. In September, she traveled to Ukraine and then South America for a major trade conference, marking the start of her second five-year term as committee chair.

On January 3, the commission said von der Leyen had “severe pneumonia” and her appointments for the next two weeks had been cancelled. Her agenda is said to have cleared meetings in Lisbon and Poland, which has just taken over the EU's rotating presidency.

No details were given about her condition or how she fell ill, but German news agency dpa later reported that she had been taken to hospital. It raises questions about the transparency of the EU's powerful executive branch.

Asked by reporters why she withheld news of her hospitalization, commission spokesperson Paola Pinho said: “We said the president had severe pneumonia. We said she was seriously ill at home in Hannover, Germany.

Pinho said the media learned that von der Leyen had canceled appointments in early January but was taking important calls, including with Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, and was able to handle commission business.

“So we are giving you key information about the president's health by saying what disease she has and how serious it is,” Pinho said in response to questions from several reporters, without explaining why hospital details were withheld. information. “Her mobility was never in question.”

From June 2 to 10, von der Leyen stayed in the hospital for eight days. Pinho said the president was “recovering very well” and was expected to return to her office at the Brussels council, where she has a small apartment, this weekend.

The former German Defense Minister usually maintains a strict travel schedule. She will attend the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France, next week and will travel to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum.

After taking office in 2019, von der Leyen led the EU's push for COVID-19 vaccines and has been a key supporter of Ukraine's war against Russia. With the French and German governments weakened, she has sought a greater role in the affairs of the 27-nation bloc.