In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen made history as the first female President of the European Commission, striving for a gender-balanced top team. With 13 women and 14 men in powerful portfolios, she set a new standard for governance within the EU. Fast forward to today, Von der Leyen faces a challenge as 17 EU states have nominated men for the job, defying her call for gender parity in the Commission.
The European Women’s Lobby commended Von der Leyen’s efforts and urged her to stand her ground against this “sausage fest” of male candidates. The lack of respect for equality is not just a matter of optics but also impacts real power and policy within the EU. Von der Leyen is in a bind as she seeks to ensure gender balance without straining relationships with member states.
Behind the scenes, Von der Leyen is persuading member states to reconsider their nominations. The European Parliament will ultimately decide on the nominees, highlighting the ongoing struggle for gender balance in EU leadership.
As the quest for gender parity continues, the world watches to see if the EU can truly uphold its values of inclusion and diversity under Von der Leyen’s leadership.
