New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations General Assembly elected Annalena Baerbock, former German Foreign Minister, to serve as President of the 80th session of the General Assembly, which begins in September. She is the fifth woman to hold the position in the UN's nearly 80-year history.
Under the established regional rotation system, the President of the 80th session of the General Assembly was elected by secret ballot from the Western European and Others Group. Baerbock received 167 votes, while former German diplomat Helga Schmid received seven votes, and 14 countries abstained. According to the UN Daily News,
In her address to the General Assembly following her election, Annalena Baerbock expressed her gratitude to Member States and the current Assembly President, Philemon Yang, pledging to build on his wise, inspiring, and unifying leadership. She said her presidency would be guided by the motto "Better Together," adding, "I will engage in a dialogue of trust with all member states. My door will always be open to all."
She warned that "we are living in challenging times. We are walking a tightrope of uncertainty," pointing to ongoing global crises and more than 120 armed conflicts. However, she urged optimism, adding that "we have been through challenging times before, and we must meet these challenges."
Baerbock continued, "I will commit myself to upholding our Charter and the purpose and principles enshrined therein. I will focus on what we can do together rather than wondering what divides us, because together we are better." A United Nations Fit for the Future
The President-elect commended the Secretary-General's initiative, known as "UN80," noting that it "should not be simply a cost-cutting exercise. Our shared goal is a strong, focused, agile, and fit-for-purpose organization, one capable of achieving its core objectives. We need a United Nations that works for peace, development, and justice."
She also noted that promoting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is among the priorities of the 80th session. Baerbock pledged to uphold the principles of transparency and inclusivity, particularly in the upcoming selection of the next Secretary-General. She affirmed her commitment to engaging civil society and youth, promoting multilingualism, and ensuring representation of every region and group in her office.
She concluded by saying, "Eighty years on, the world no longer looks like paradise, but it is our world, and this is the task of our time: to make the United Nations fit for purpose, fit for the future." It is worth noting that four women have held the presidency of the General Assembly throughout the history of the United Nations, the most recent being Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador) in 2018. She was preceded by Shaikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa (Bahrain) in 2006, Angie Brooks (Liberia) in 1969, and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (India) in 1953.
The General Assembly is the most representative body of the United Nations, comprising all 193 Member States.
An Inspiring Appeal
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his remarks following Baerbock's election, emphasized that her vision of "Better Together" "represents an inspiring call for today's world and for the global problem-solving system that the United Nations embodies to address these challenges."
He added that Baerbock "brings extensive governmental and diplomatic experience to this task, including her time as her country's Foreign Minister." He continued, "Let us not forget the historic significance of her being the fifth woman elected President of the General Assembly." He noted that as the President-elect prepares to lead the 80th session of the General Assembly, she does so at a difficult and uncertain moment for the multilateral system, where conflicts, climate disasters, poverty, and inequality continue to challenge the human family.
The Secretary-General also thanked the current President of the General Assembly, Philemon Yang, for his advice, guidance, and unwavering commitment to the United Nations and multilateral solutions.
"An equal seat at the table"
Following the session in which she was elected President of the next session of the General Assembly, Baerbock spoke to reporters, emphasizing that the General Assembly is a place where every Member State, large and small, has an equal voice and vote, adding that "in these challenging times, it is more important than ever that all these voices be heard."
She also emphasized that, as only the fifth woman to hold this position in 80 years, "I recognize that peace and development can only be sustainable when half the population—women in every country—have an equal seat at the negotiating table. We all know that it hasn't been and won't be easy, but we cannot give up on the quest to make the world a better place together."

When asked whether her presidency of the General Assembly could serve as a launching pad for the nomination or selection of a woman for the position of UN Secretary-General, she emphasized that the role of Member States and the General Assembly would be crucial in this matter, as it has been in the past, and that they would work closely with the Security Council on this process.

When asked about the Assembly's role in assuming responsibility for many issues related to peace and security, she emphasized that the Assembly has a special role in the international system regarding peace and security, emphasizing that she would work closely with the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission in this regard. She also said, "Peace and security are not an isolated pillar of the United Nations. Rather, peace, security, development, and human rights are interconnected. We have known from the past 80 years that sustainable peace depends on the sustainable development of countries." She noted that this is why it was important for her to emphasize the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.