European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has been defended by Armin Laschet, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and former Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, for receiving the Aachen Charlemagne Prize.
Speaking to the news channel Welt, Laschet emphasized that while one could weigh the pros and cons of any politician, von der Leyen was the person who, in the current times, holds together the institutional fabric of the European Union. He highlighted her role in maintaining unity among the member states, citing her success in securing unanimous decisions on sanctions packages and her efforts in resolving the trade conflict with the United States, including her recent achievement in persuading former President Trump to delay tariffs.
Laschet, a member of the Karlspreis’s directorium, believes that von der Leyen’s ability to bring together the EU’s member states and maintain the institution’s cohesion makes her a worthy recipient of the prestigious prize, scheduled to be awarded the next day.