EU says Ursula von der Leyen was hospitalised for a week with pneumonia
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Journalists have asked repeated questions in the past week about the health of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, but officials have remained tight-lipped on the matter.
PHOTO: AFP
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BRUSSELS - European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen was treated in hospital for around a week for “severe” pneumonia, her office said Jan 10, adding she was “now working from home”.
On Jan 3, a spokesman said the German politician, 66, was carrying out her duties from her home city of Hanover
Her hospitalisation only came to light after German news agency DPA reported on Jan 10 that Dr von der Leyen had been in a Hanover hospital for around a week.
“We can confirm that the president was hospitalised for about a week to treat pneumonia, and has now returned home. At no time she was in intensive care,” commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta said.
“She was in daily contact with her team in the commission. She is now working from home, while further recovering from that severe illness,” she added.
The news comes despite journalists repeated questions in the past week about the state of Dr von der Leyen’s health.
Last week, her office said she cancelled her travel plans until mid-January including a speech in Lisbon and a trip to Gdansk in Poland. AFP
