On Republic Day 2026, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is the chief guest in India. Born in Brussels in 1958, Ursula started as a medical doctor, later entering politics in Germany with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
Republic Day 2026: EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Arrives in India
New Delhi: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa have arrived in India as Chief Guests for this year's 77th Republic Day. A Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is also expected to be signed between India and the European Union (EU) on this occasion.
Ursula von der Leyen is currently the President of the European Commission, the highest administrative body of the 27 EU countries. Elections for this position are held every five years. Von der Leyen was first elected in 2019 and won a second consecutive term in 2024. She belongs to Germany's leading party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), and served as Defense Minister in Chancellor Angela Merkel's government.
Ursula was born on October 8, 1958, in Brussels, Belgium. Her father, Ernst Ulrike, was a senior official in the European Commission, while her mother, Heidi-Adele Ulrike, was an academic. She spent her childhood in Brussels and later in Hanover, Germany. She was fluent in German and French from an early age.
Educationally, she studied at the European School in Brussels, the University of Göttingen, and the London School of Economics. During her student years, she changed her name to Rose Ladson for security reasons. She subsequently entered the medical field and graduated from Hanover Medical School.
Ursula married Heiko von der Leyen in 1986. Following her husband, she moved to the United States in 1990 and studied at Stanford University.
In 1990, she joined the CDU. After a few years away from politics in the United States, she returned to Germany and strengthened her political career. In 2003, she became the Social Minister of Lower Saxony. She later held important positions in Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet for a long time.
Ursula von der Leyen is known as a powerful speaker and an influential leader. His leadership capabilities and experience make him a perfect fit as the Chief Guest for Republic Day 2026.
His presence this Republic Day will not only strengthen India-EU relations but also mark an important step towards free trade agreements and international cooperation.
