Dalai Lama congratulates first female European Commission president
DHARAMSALA, July 19: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has congratulated the newly elected president of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen, the first-ever woman to hold EU’s top job.
“I take this opportunity to convey to you my great admiration for the spirit of the European Union that has preserved peace among its members and in the region for more than 60 years,” the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote in a missive to the newly elected EU chief, the official website of the Tibetan spiritual leader, dalailama.com reported.
The Tibetan Nobel Laureate who has long expressed his admiration for the spirit of the European Union has further said, “EU has put the common good ahead of the local interests of individual countries.”
“This demonstrates wisdom and maturity in a world that has increasingly become interdependent. I have a dream that similar unions in Africa, Latin America and Asia would fortify global peace,” the Dalai Lama said n the missive.
The octogenarian Tibetan leader who has been vocal about the need of more women in leadership roles across the world has also stated his missive by congratulating the Ursula Von der Leyen, the first women elected as the EU chief.
“I also congratulate you on being the first woman to serve as European commission president. It is my firm conviction that if more of our leaders were women, the world would be a more understanding, peaceful place.”
The Dalai Lama concluded by wishing the new president of the European Commission in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in making the European Union strong and a model for others to follow.
Ursula Von der Leyen, who was also the first female to hold the office of German defence minister (2013-2019) was elected the 13th President of the European Commission by the European Parliament on 16 July. She won 383 of the 733 votes cast, clearing the margin for an absolute majority by just nine votes.
The first woman EU chief will now succeed Jean-Claude Juncker from 1, November 2019 as the President of the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union.
