BERLIN 

Senior German politician Ursula von der Leyen has become the first female politician to lead the European Union’s executive arm. 

The European Parliament confirmed her as the new EU Commission President in a 383-327 vote on Tuesday. 

The 61-year-old conservative politician was nominated by EU leaders early this month, after prolonged negotiations in Brussels. But she faced strong opposition from the Social Democrats and Greens.

Von der Leyen has been a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) since 1990, and she became the first woman to serve as Germany’s defense minister in 2013. 

During her political career, von der Leyen has been a strong advocate of closer integration in Europe and forming a federal EU superstate. 

In her time as defense minister, von der Leyen argued for transatlantic cooperation but also pushed for the creation of a European army.

Turkey congratulates von der Leyen

Following the confirmation of von der Leyen’s new position, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu congratulated her in Twitter post.

“Congratulations to Ursula von der Leyen on being elected President of @EU_Commission. Expect this election to have positive impact on #Turkey-#EU relations. @vonderleyen,” Cavusoglu tweeted.

* Contribution by Sena Guler in Ankara