Brussels – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced a serious bout of pneumonia shortly after the New Year, necessitating a brief hospital stay. According to the German Press Agency, the 66-year-old politician was hospitalized for nearly a week at the University Hospital in Hanover. Fortunately, she is reportedly recovering well and is now able to work from home.
On Friday, von der Leyen shared a photo on Instagram of herself working from her home office. Officials from the EU Commission reported that she was never in intensive care and maintained daily communication with her team throughout her hospitalization.
Prior to this, EU Commission representatives confirmed that von der Leyen was facing a severe case of pneumonia and had canceled her external appointments for the first two weeks of January. They indicated that she was fulfilling her official responsibilities from Hanover and staying in close contact with her team. If her recovery continues as expected, she aims to return to the Brussels Commission building by mid-January.
Von der Leyen Connects with Global Leaders
In recent days, von der Leyen has conversed with several leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, just before Meloni’s meeting with future US President Donald Trump in Florida. A discussion with the newly appointed Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg is scheduled for this Saturday. A decision regarding von der Leyen’s participation in the upcoming weekly EU commissioners’ meeting will be made by her spokesperson at the beginning of the week.
The news of von der Leyen’s hospitalization had not been previously disclosed. In Brussels, the announcement that she was performing her official duties from Hanover was generally interpreted as her working from home. It’s worth noting that Hanover is von der Leyen’s home region, where she resides in the small village of Beinhorn when not in Brussels or traveling.
Pneumonia (medically referred to as pneumonitis) is an inflammation of lung tissue typically caused by infections from bacteria, viruses, or, in rare cases, fungi. It can impact one or both lungs and its severity can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on the underlying cause and the affected individual’s health status. (January 12)
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