Former German Foreign Minister Analene Baerbock was elected president of the UN General Assembly on Monday.
She was elected to the post in New York, the headquarters of the United Nations, with 167 votes in favor.
Baerbock was the only candidate for the one-year position, which is primarily ceremonial and should not be confused with the role of UN Secretary-General currently held by Antonio Guterres.
The election in a plenary session before the 193 UN member states was held by secret ballot, reportedly demanded by Russia.
Baerbock is due to be inaugurated on September 9, just before the annual General Assembly session.
Ms. Baerbock’s election comes at a critical juncture for the multilateral system, spearheaded by the United Nations.
With the Security Council deadlocked – especially on moves to help end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza – the Assembly has become a vital forum for diplomatic engagement and consensus-building, even without binding authority on peace and security issues.
As conflicts rage, the Assembly has passed a series of resolutions calling for ceasefires, humanitarian access and the protection of civilians.
Many now see the Assembly as an essential platform for accountability and maintaining international focus on intractable crises, especially through the “Veto Initiative” adopted in 2022 which ensures that issues blocked by permanent members on the Security Council are debated in the Assembly as a priority.
A power wielded by the five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – a veto (or negative vote) can block Council action even when all other members support a motion.
Pledge to be an honest broker
In her acceptance speech, President-elect Baerbock acknowledged the current global challenges and pledged to serve as “an honest broker and a unifier” for all 193 Member States, emphasising her theme of “Better Together.”
She outlined three priorities for her presidency: making the Organization more efficient and effective; advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and making the Assembly a “truly inclusive forum”.
She called for a UN “that embraces everyone. I see the diversity of the General Assembly as our strength. This is the place where all nations come together and where every country has a seat and a voice.”
She also highlighted the importance of promoting gender equality, multilingualism, and engagement with civil society and youth.
