Annalena Baerbock's résumé: a double disaster

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Green candidate for Chancellor Annalena Baerbock

Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA-EFE

If I may briefly introduce myself: I studied sociology, political science, comparative literature, law and newspaper studies in Augsburg and Munich.

I am involved in the sponsorship association of our son's school, help persecuted journalists with regular donations and support the homeless.

Great guy, right?

Well

Actually, I broke off all these studies, transfer the minimum fee to two associations, avoid every parents' evening if possible and give a beggar 50 cents every now and then.

Still not a bad person, I would say.

Pretty normal.

But what would it say about my character if I had only introduced myself to you with the first version of my good deeds - and it only came out bit by bit later that the second version was true?

And what would it say about the professionalism of my campaign if I went into the election campaign for a high office with such a prettied résumé?

The start was too fantastic to carry to the finish

The soaring of the green top candidate Annalena Baerbock, as the course of the surveys shows, seems to be turning into a descent.

At first, the general joy about the fresh candidate and her vision of a new, not only for the climate, but generally fair society outweighed, now disillusionment is spreading.

That's normal, the start was too fantastic to carry to the finish.

more on the subject

Headwind for Baerbock and Habeck: The Greens between power and morality

In the debate about higher fuel prices and short air travel, it seems to be dawning on voters that they are serious.

Their demands for higher energy prices hardly differ from those of most of the other parties, but the Greens actually seem to want to stick to their own decisions.

Nothing against saving the world, many will think - but first I want to go on vacation.

And then back to work in the car when I'm finally allowed to go back to the office.

And it should all cost as little as possible.

In the sleeping car to the Chancellery

One can consider it a strategic mistake to state clearly what one intends to do before the election - especially if the project entails a financial burden on the citizens.

Such an election campaign is much more convenient if you remain as vague as possible and do not commit to any topic.

Angela Merkel has won many elections with this method, and it now looks as if Armin Laschet could also use it to keep the CDU in power: in a sleeping car to the Chancellery.

The Greens are not to be blamed for not holding back with their requests while they are campaigning for votes.

So they may do worse than hoped - but honorable.

Whoever chooses the Greens knows what he or she is getting.

Is Baerbock advised by bloody beginners?

Or maybe not.

Because the CO

₂

price debate may be a problem for the Greens.

The real disaster, however, is the unworthy muddle with Annalena Baerbock's biography.

In fact, it's a double disaster.

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Chancellor candidate of the Greens: Baerbock specifies information on membership in organizations

First, there is the incredible failure of their campaign. How can it be that Baerbock is surrounded by consultants who were apparently unable to publish a not only correct, but watertight résumé of their candidate? This is not the very first green federal election campaign since the founding of the party - it is the most important of all, because for the first time they have the chance of power in the country. How can she surround herself with people who do not know that every detail will be scrutinized in such a fight, who do not put on the glasses of the political opponent and the investigative press well in advance and everything, but also everything there is something to know about the candidatecheck for possible weak points? Are they complete beginners? Didn't they even watch a US political series for training during the pandemic? At least a couple of episodes? Obviously not.

The result is a devastating impression: Not only does a woman want to become chancellor (or at least a minister) who has no experience in administration or government.

No, she is also surrounded by employees who have precious little knowledge of political business.

And should someone vote for this troop?

More appearance than reality

Worse still, however, is the second disaster: the exaggerations in Baerbock's curriculum vitae itself. What drives someone to call themselves a member of a United Nations organization of which one cannot even become a member? Why does someone refer to themselves as a member of the German Marshall Fund after participating in a fellowship program? And why does all of this remain visible to everyone for weeks after the first debate about training to become an international lawyer?

This creates the image of an overly ambitious candidate who always wants to portray something more than she really is. Annalena Baerbock sowed doubts about her character suitability for the Chancellery without any need. Because who really cares whether Baerbock is a member or just a donor and former participant? Nobody. For them it seems to have been important. Possibly too important.