Former German FM to lead UN General Assembly, promises reform, openness

Germany’s former Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has been elected president of the United Nations General Assembly for the 2025–2026 session, following a vote held on June 2 in New York.

Baerbock, who ran unopposed, secured the position with a simple majority vote despite mounting criticism within Germany and opposition from Russia, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The presidency of the UN General Assembly is largely ceremonial, focusing on organizing and presiding over plenary sessions among the 193 UN member states. Baerbock will assume office on September 9, shortly before the annual General Debate, and will serve for one year.

Russia, expressing disapproval of Baerbock’s candidacy, requested a secret ballot during the vote, though the process was widely viewed as a formality given the absence of other contenders.

Germany, which was responsible for nominating a candidate for this session, chose Baerbock over Helga Schmid, a seasoned diplomat and the current Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). The decision sparked backlash among German foreign policy circles.

Christoph Heusgen, former chairman of the Munich Security Conference, criticized the nomination sharply. “It is outrageous to replace the best and most internationally experienced German diplomat with an outdated model,” he said in remarks to the domestic press.

Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel echoed the sentiment, stating, “Ms Baerbock can learn a lot from her,” referring to Schmid’s diplomatic credentials.

The German government, however, stood by Baerbock’s nomination. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit defended the choice, calling her “highly qualified for the job.”

Baerbock addressed the criticism by noting that her appointment followed the precedent of previous General Assembly presidents. “Analogous to many predecessors who were also former foreign ministers or former prime ministers,” she said, adding that the nomination was “made jointly with Schmid.” Schmid has not commented publicly.

In her address to the Assembly’s member states, Baerbock pledged to act as “a unifier — with an open ear and an open door.” She emphasized the need for UN reform, stressing that “The United Nations is needed more than ever before,” and committed to adapting the institution to 21st-century challenges.

By Vafa Guliyeva