Top post in New York: UN General Assembly should choose Baerbock to President

After more than three years as German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock begins a new chapter in New York. On Monday (from 4 p.m. CET), the Greens politician is to be elected President of the UN General Assembly.

Baerbock competes without opposing candidates for the one-year top position of the largest UN committee with 193 member countries. This is primarily given to protocol importance-it should not be confused with the role of UN General Secretary António Guterres. The official inauguration would be on September 9 shortly before the UN General Assembly with state guests from all over the world.

High office with little power

As President, Baerbock would lead the meetings of the General Assembly and set processes and agenda points. With these tasks, the 44-year-old could at least have a limited influence on decision-making processes behind the scenes, for example that of the election of the next general secretary in the coming year. Baerbock’s direct line to outside ministers worldwide-i.e. the bosses of the UN ambassadors in New York.

In contrast, the 15-member UN Security Council with the five Vetomaks is considered to be much more powerful compared to the general assembly. It can issue resolutions binding under international law. The political decisions of the general assembly, on the other hand, often have a more symbolic value and are considered a worldwide mood.

Baerbock wants to appear diplomatic

“As a president, I should be chosen, I will serve all 193 Member States – big and small. As a honest mediator. As an end. With an open ear. And open door,” said Baerbock in May when she was introduced. And also clear that she would strike a more diplomatic tone in the new role than in her time as a German Foreign Minister, in which she was always noticed against Russia, among other things.

Baerbock would start the new office in times of immense financial pressure on the United Nations, among other things because of the cuts of the Trump government. Baerbock had announced that reforms were promoted and wanted to use the resources of the general assembly as efficiently as possible. She cited the achievement of the UN sustainability goals, the fight against the climate crisis and gender equality.

Choice is a matter of form – actually

The choice in the plenary in front of 193 UN member countries is considered a matter of form-actually: Usually the general assembly seals personal details without opposing candidates by acclamation, i.e. in consensus without formal choice. According to the office of the previous president of the committee, the Cameroonian Philémon Yang, there could also be a secret vote – provided that a country applies.

In the past few weeks, Russia had made no secret of the fact that Baerbock considers it to be an unsuitable candidate and assumed her “blatant bias”. Baerbock had driven a tough course towards Russia as a foreign minister in the course of the Ukraine War and thus kept targeting Moscow.

Originally, the German top diplomat Helga Schmid, which was also accepted by Russia, was intended for the office of President of the UN General Assembly. Baerbock was criticized for her late candidacy after the lost federal election.