European Union  leaders on Tuesday nominated German Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen to become the new president of the bloc’s powerful executive arm, the European Commission (EC).

Von der Leyen, who is one of the two women named to top EU posts for the first time will seek support in the EU parliament on Thursday with the hope of securing the confirmation that she will need in two weeks’ time.

Upon her confirmation, Von der Leyen, a close ally of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel is expected to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the EC while France’s Christine Lagarde will head the European Central Bank.

European leaders hope that the decision to put two women at the top of EU decision-making for the first time will send a positive message and repair damage caused during the last fractious summit.