UN assembly elects Germany's ex-foreign minister as next president after Russia demands secret vote

The UN General Assembly overwhelmingly elected Germany's former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock to be the next head of the 193-member world body in a secret-ballot vote demanded by Russia.
Baerbock got 167 votes, almost double the 88 votes needed to win, while high-ranking German diplomat Helga Schmid received seven votes as a write-in and 14 countries abstained.

Germany Replaces Nominee Amid Domestic Criticism

Germany had nominated Schmid for the assembly presidency but replaced her with Baerbock after she lost her job as the country's foreign affairs chief in the recent election. The decision drew some criticism in Germany.

When Baerbock appeared before the assembly to discuss her candidacy on May 15, Russia's deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky lashed into her, saying: "Ms Baerbock has repeatedly proved her incompetence, extreme bias and lack of understanding of the basic principles of diplomacy."

Polyansky accused her of having pursued an "anti-Russia policy," which he said gave Russia reason to doubt that as General Assembly president, she would be "able to act in the interests of peace and dialogue."

Baerbock Thanks Member States, Set to Assume Role in September

Baerbock brushed off Russia's request for a secret ballot.

"I am grateful … the overwhelming majority of member states have voted in favour of my candidacy, and I'm looking forward to work with all member states together in these challenging times," she said.
Baerbock will replace current assembly president Philemon Yang, a former prime minister of Cameroon, at the start of the 80th session in September. She will preside over the annual gathering of world leaders in late September and anniversary events marking the founding of the United Nations in 1945.