The Commission informed journalists on Jan. 3 that von der Leyen was suffering from “severe” pneumonia, but did not disclose that she had been hospitalized, even after direct questioning. German newswire DPA broke the news on Jan. 10, which is the same day von der Leyen left hospital, according to Pinho.
Pinho said that von der Leyen entered a hospital in Hanover for about a week after a medical appointment on Jan. 2. “The president was never on a respirator or in intensive care,” the senior official said.
“Can the Commission be run from a hospital? It really depends on the status of the person, of the patient,” Pinho said.
Von der Leyen’s No. 2, Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera, will step in to chair Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting.
Pinho said that von der Leyen should be well enough to hold meetings by the end of the week, and will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week.
Ketrin Jochecová contributed reporting.
