Former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been elected as the new president of the UN General Assembly at its 80th session, German news agency DPA reported.
The 44-year-old Green Party politician won 167 of the 193 votes of the UN member states, a clear majority. Baerbock had no opponent, and her confirmation in office was thus long expected, although the voting process was beset by complications.
According to Spanish news site DW Español, Russia pushed through the secret ballot over concerns about Baerbock "partisanship because of her firm stance against Moscow". The move was seen as a response to her earlier criticism of Russian policy, particularly in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. In spite of this, Baerbock has received convincing support, which shows her strong position.
Annalena Baerbock, who served as German Foreign Minister from 2021 to 2025, is known for her emphasis on multilateralism, respect for international law and the protection of human rights. Her election comes at a time when the UN is facing a number of global challenges, including ongoing conflict, the climate crisis, humanitarian problems and the need to reform its structures to better respond to current global conditions.
German politician Jakub Kulhanek on social network X praised her speech at the election, saying: "Congratulations, Annalena Baerbock, on your election as President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. Your passionate call for unity and effective multilateralism has struck exactly the right note." These words reflect the expectation that Baerbock, in her new role, will promote greater cooperation between states and seek solutions to global problems.
Baerbock will take office in September 2025 and will become the first German woman to lead the UN General Assembly. Her presidency is likely to focus on strengthening international cooperation, tackling climate change and supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, which remains one of the key issues in international politics. She is also expected to push for UN reform to enable the organisation to respond more effectively to current global crises.
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