A married couple will share, from August, the German Embassy in Slovenia, a new arrangement which should allow them to reconcile family and professional life.
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Natalie Kauther, 45, and Adrian Pollmann, 43, will take office in August in Ljubljana for a period of four years, they announced on the German public broadcaster ARD. Lawyers employed since 2005 by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they will exercise their function as ambassadors on a work-study basis every eight months, a new arrangement in Germany which should allow them to pursue a diplomatic career and family life with their three children.
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The couple sees themselves as a " pioneer " in the matter, in the words of Mrs. Kauther, satisfied as her husband that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given the green light. Until now, German couples could work in the same embassy, but only in subordinate positions. “ We realized that we wanted and needed to spend more time with our children. They are in demand. They are 7, 8 and 10 years old and at some point they will not ask for it any more, ”explains Mr. Pollmann, who will assume his duties first from August.
A few rare countries have also appointed couples to ambassadorial positions, such as Switzerland in 2009 in Thailand or France between 2016 and 2019 in Zagreb.