Ursula von der Leyen. Photo credit: Stefan Boness/Ipon/Sipa Press/Profimedia
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has been hospitalized for a week for pneumonia, a spokesman said on Friday, clarifying for the first time the seriousness of her illness, write Politico.eu and News.ro.
“We can confirm that the president was hospitalized to be treated for pneumonia and has now returned home,” Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podestà told the publication. Political. “At no time was he in intensive care,” the spokeswoman said.
“He was in daily contact with his team at the Commission,” Podesta said. “He is now working from home as he continues to recover from this serious illness,” added Arianna Podesta.
The disclosure – made more than a week after the Commission announced that Ursula von der Leyen is ill and canceled his public commitments until the middle of the month – raising questions about the lack of transparency of the most powerful official of the EU, notes Politico.
Asked on Wednesday whether Von der Leyen had been hospitalized, Paula Pinho, the chief spokeswoman for the president of the European Commission, said there was “no update” on the matter.
Von der Leyen’s illness forced a postponement of the presentation of a key element of her economic strategy, as well as a meeting of the College of Commissioners in Poland, the country that took over the rotating presidency of the EU Council . But at that time, Von der Leyen’s team did not mention his hospitalization.
Ursula von der Leyen was admitted to the University Hospital of Hannover for a week, according to the German news agency DPA.
The president canceled his engagements in the first half of January due to “severe pneumonia,” his spokesman announced last Friday, adding that he is convalescing in his hometown of Hanover.
Ursula von der Leyen has now left the hospital and posted a photo on Instagram from her home office. “Home sweet home…office!” he wrote
