Ursula von der Leyen Recovers After Hospitalization for Pneumonia

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has recently been hospitalized due to a severe case of pneumonia. The 66-year-old politician was admitted to a hospital in Hannover shortly after the New Year and required treatment for approximately a week. Fortunately, she is now said to be recovering well and has resumed work from her home.

On social media, von der Leyen shared a glimpse of her return to work by posting a photo of herself in her home office, accompanied by a lighthearted caption. According to the European Commission, at no point during her illness did she require intensive medical care, and she maintained daily communication with her team while hospitalized.

Until now, details regarding her hospitalization had not been publicly disclosed. The Commission had only acknowledged her struggle with pneumonia and noted that she had canceled her external commitments for the first two weeks of January. Von der Leyen is expected to complete her recovery by mid-January, after which she plans to return to her office in Brussels.

In the days leading up to this announcement, von der Leyen engaged in discussions with various European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, prior to her meeting with former US President Donald Trump in Florida. A call with the new Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg is also on her agenda for the upcoming weekend.

The exact timeline for von der Leyen's return to her regular duties remains uncertain. The Commission's representatives have indicated that a decision regarding her participation in the upcoming weekly meeting of the EU Commissioners will be made in the early part of next week.

Pneumonia, a condition characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue, can be caused by bacterial, viral, or occasionally fungal infections. Its severity can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on various factors including the individual's overall health.