Baerbock elected President of 80th UN General Assembly

UN Photo/Manuel Elías — Annalena Baerbock, President-elect of the General Assembly at its 80th session, addresses delegations after her election.

Annalena Baerbock, former German foreign minister, was elected President of the UN General Assembly’s 80th session on Monday. She takes on the role as the Western European group assumes its rotational turn at the helm of the world body.

Her election comes amid mounting global crises—ongoing conflicts, faltering development goals, and financial pressures—alongside preparations for selecting the next UN Secretary-General.

Baerbock won 167 votes in a secret ballot. A write-in candidate, Helga Schmid (also German), received seven votes, while 14 delegations abstained.

At 44, Baerbock becomes the youngest woman ever elected to the position and the first woman from the Western European group. She is the fifth woman overall to hold the presidency, which rotates annually among five regional groups.

Her appointment comes as the UN grapples with challenges to multilateralism. With the Security Council often gridlocked—especially on issues like Ukraine and Gaza—the General Assembly has emerged as a key platform for diplomatic dialogue.

Though its resolutions are non-binding, the Assembly has passed numerous measures urging ceasefires, humanitarian access, and protection of civilians. It has also gained prominence since the adoption of the 2022 “Veto Initiative”, which mandates Assembly debate on issues blocked by permanent Security Council members.

In her acceptance speech, Baerbock vowed to act as “an honest broker and a unifier” for all 193 Member States, highlighting her theme: “Better Together.”

She outlined three priorities for her term:

She also emphasised gender equality, multilingualism, and civil society engagement—especially involving youth.

Baerbock endorsed the “UN80 Initiative,” launched in March by Secretary-General António Guterres. She stressed it must be more than a cost-cutting measure, calling instead for bold reforms.

“Our common goal is a strong, focused, and nimble UN that delivers on peace, development and justice,” she said.

Outgoing Assembly President Philemon Yang praised Baerbock’s “unwavering commitment to multilateralism” and expressed confidence in her leadership. Secretary-General Guterres noted she takes up the role amid a “difficult and uncertain” time for global cooperation.

The General Assembly, often described as the UN’s “world parliament,” offers each Member State an equal voice. While it cannot enforce decisions, it shapes global norms and holds the Security Council accountable.

The upcoming 80th session, beginning on 9 September, is expected to play a critical role—not just in responding to current crises but also in setting the course for UN reforms and the appointment of the next Secretary-General by 2026.