BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Fee denied on Monday that it had tried to cowl up the state of health of its president, Ursula von der Leyen, after the top of the EU’s govt department was hospitalized with extreme pneumonia.
Von der Leyen, 66, is the EU’s most high-profile political determine. In September, she marked the beginning of her second five-year time period as fee president by touring to Ukraine after which to South America for a major trade meeting.
On Jan. 3, the fee had stated von der Leyen was ailing with “extreme pneumonia” and that her appointments for the following two weeks had been canceled. It stated her agenda was cleared of conferences in Lisbon and in Poland, which has simply taken over the EU’s rotating presidency.
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No particulars had been supplied about her situation or how she fell ailing, however German information company dpa later reported that she had been admitted to the hospital. It raised questions on transparency on the EU’s highly effective govt department.
Requested by reporters why information of her hospitalization had been withheld, fee spokesperson Paula Pinho stated: “We stated that the president had extreme pneumonia. We stated that she was coping with extreme sickness” at her dwelling within the German metropolis of Hannover.
Pinho stated the media was knowledgeable that von der Leyen had canceled her appointments in early January however was taking essential cellphone calls, together with with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, and was capable of conduct fee enterprise.
“We subsequently gave you the vital details about the well being standing of the president, by saying what illness she had, and the way severe it was,” Pinho stated in response to questions from a number of reporters, with out explaining why the hospital particulars had been withheld. “Her means to behave was by no means in query.”
Von der Leyen spent eight days within the hospital, from June 2-10. Pinho stated the president is “recovering effectively,” and was as a consequence of return to Brussels to her workplace on the fee, the place she has a small condominium, on the finish of this week.
The previous German protection minister normally retains a punishing journey schedule. She is because of attend a European Parliament session in Strasbourg, France, subsequent week and can journey to the World Financial discussion board in Davos, Switzerland.
After coming to workplace in 2019, von der Leyen led the EU drive to safe COVID-19 vaccines and has been a significant supporter of Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russia. With governments weakened in France and Germany, she has sought to play a higher function within the 27-nation bloc’s affairs.
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