Annalena Baerbock: She’s not only making an impression in Germany

First smiled at, now admired: as Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock has become Germany’s most popular politician – in her very own way.

Already in her inaugural speech she struck new tones. Annalena Baerbock, 41, told the Foreign Office in December that she was advised to make an impression with quotes from Kissinger to Brandt. But she would rather quote her daughter, who goes to elementary school.

Annalena Baerbock’s little daughter knew what was in store for her mother

When she explained to her that she would represent Germany in the world in the next few years, her daughter replied: “In the world? Oh my!” The girl apparently knew right away that “a lot and not always easy work” was coming up to her mother. After only a few weeks it is clear that this forecast was even an understatement.

With the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine, there has been a war in the middle of Europe since February. A jump in at the deep end for the new federal government, especially for the foreign minister. During the election campaign, Baerbock’s opponents had let it be known that the conduct of official business could not function with this young woman without government and administrative experience.

Now she is the most popular German politician in polls. Because to the great surprise of her critics, Annalena Baerbock does her new job excellently. The Green Party’s failed chancellor candidate is gaining more respect every day, even from political opponents. “We are glad that you are responsible for our country in these difficult times,” praised Saxony’s Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer, 46 (CDU).

Annalena Baerbock moves confidently on the international stage, like here in front of the US Capitol in Washington.

© xThomasxImo:photothek.netx / imago images

She is not intimidated in the male domain

Baerbock traveled to Washington, Kyiv, Moscow. And showed her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, 72, in particular, that she doesn’t allow herself to be intimidated. She confidently spoke plain language – her specialty. During a joint press conference, he looked over at her in astonishment.

Did he think at that moment that she had refused the vodka at lunchtime? “If that’s an endurance test … I gave birth to two children,” she replied loudly to “Spiegel” and didn’t touch the glass.

Sergey Lavrov and Annalena Baerbock

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Annalena Baerbock.

© xAlexeyxMaishevx / imago images

Some men’s rough games, in which a woman should show whether she’s got what it takes – Annalena Baerbock doesn’t play them. She has committed herself to a feminist foreign policy, a holistic concept that takes all people into account in foreign and security policy and in which more women are represented in decision-making positions. “It’s not nonsense!” She called out to CDU leader Friedrich Merz, 66, in the Bundestag.

As a politician, she focuses on the human

Being empathetic without losing your backbone, demonstrating strength without giving up values: Annalena Baerbock shows attitude and yet remains approachable. It proves that it doesn’t have to be an either/or. That supplying arms to a country that is defending itself and strengthening human rights are not mutually exclusive. She focuses on the human.

Just like before the United Nations when a resolution against Russia was supposed to be passed. It is a matter of life or death for the Ukrainian people, she said in a moving speech. “When we go home, each of us will be sitting at the kitchen table across from our children, our partners, our friends, our families. Then each of us has to look them in the eye and say what choices we made.”

Would she have been the better chancellor?

Many are now wondering whether she would not have been the better head of government in Berlin instead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, 63. She is one of the most visible representatives of the traffic light coalition. According to her ministry, she has prepared herself conscientiously for her new position, and she is a very fast learner. Sometimes she resorts to rather unusual means.

She recently invited students from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus to the Foreign Ministry. She listened to them carefully, wanted to know exactly how they experienced the war from Germany, to get a feeling for the personal dimension of the events. “There will certainly be a lot of tears,” she said in advance, “because what’s happening tears you apart.”

A lot of brains and a big heart: She sticks to it every minute.

Gala

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