But Aral, she’s not…

“In Hanover, the “hübsche Familien” were quasi-noble families who had special access to the court. The Albrecht family have held this status—and key positions in German politics—for more than 500 years.”

…

…

“Von der Leyen’s family tree traces a legacy of power and brutality, incorporating not only some of Germany’s most significant Nazis but also some of Britain’s largest slave traders and, through marriage, some of the United States’ largest slave owners. Von der Leyen is descended directly from James Ladson, who owned more than 200 slaves when the Civil War broke out.”

Oh.

foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/30/a…

The Aristocratic Ineptitude of Ursula Von Der Leyen's EU Pandemic Response

How the EU president’s family connections explain her rise to power—and failures using it during the pandemic.

^{Peter Kuras (Foreign Policy)}