UNITED NATIONS (AN) – At a time when the world's multilateral institutions are facing unprecedented scrutiny, a former German foreign minister and vocal critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken the helm of the U.N. General Assembly.
Annalena Baerbock officially assumed the presidency after being sworn in on Tuesday. In a rare procedural move highlighting the tensions surrounding her appointment, Russia had requested a secret ballot ahead of the vote that elevated her to serve as the new president for the assembly's 80th session.
With 167 votes out of 193 countries, she gained a level of support that was well above the simple majority needed to secure the position. A two-thirds majority is typically reserved for important questions related to peace, security, or the budget.
