Baerbock brings ex-Greenpeace boss into the team: Personnel causes outrage

Created: 02/10/2022, 14:01

By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi

Jennifer Morgan (l), Managing Director of Greenpeace International, and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), taken during a press conference.

Morgan is to become the federal government's special representative for climate protection, as Foreign Minister Baerbock (Greens) announced in Berlin on Wednesday.

© John Macdougall/dpa

Foreign Minister Baerbock is expanding her climate team.

Former Greenpeace boss Morgan will be responsible for international climate policy in the future.

Update from February 9th, 4.30 p.m .:

The presentation of the previous Greenpeace boss Jennifer Morgan as a special representative for international climate policy and designated State Secretary in the Federal Foreign Office by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock received criticism – especially from the Union, but also from political researchers such as Jürgen Falter .

The criticism is based primarily on Greenpeace's lobbying activities and dangerous, sometimes radical, actions by the group.

"It's all extraordinary, not to say borderline," was Falter's assessment of the

.

According to Falter, however, Baerbock is acting on purpose and wants to send a clear signal - also to Climate Minister Robert Habeck.

By appointing a lobbyist as a special representative, the Foreign Minister wanted to signal that she did not want to leave climate policy entirely to Habeck.

"It is also unusual that a non-German citizen is brought into such a position - and has to change citizenship quickly to do so," says Falter.

Baerbock brings ex-Greenpeace boss into her team: Criticism from the Union - "bigotry of green personnel policy"

Thorsten Frei (CDU), the first parliamentary secretary of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, also targeted Baerbock for this action.

A Greenpeace activist with no connection to Germany is "simply out of place" in the Foreign Office.

He accused the Greens of having a problem of understanding.

They would only endorse their own environmental lobbyists.

CDU politician Jan-Marco Luczak reacted similarly.

Opposite the

he expressed concern that the State Department was becoming "the stooge of a green activist".

After all, Morgan, as Greenpeace boss, bears the responsibility "for life-threatening and punishable actions".

In addition, a "bigotry of green personnel policy" is evident here, according to Luczak: "If the head of the ADAC were to switch to the Ministry of Transport, the Greens would have cried out in disgust."

CSU politician Silke Launert also joined Frei and Luczak's criticism of the personnel.

It cannot be that NGOs would determine Germany.

"What's next?" She asked: "Greta Thunberg as Robert Habeck's personal assistant?" Activists also need waiting periods before moving to important offices.

The "penetration of activism into politics" is unacceptable and shows "how naturally the Greens enforce their own ideologies".

Baerbock introduces former Greenpeace boss Morgan as special representative - "I feel very honored"

Update from February 9, 1:45 p.m .:

The designated Secretary of State Jennifer Morgan is asked where her first trip will go.

"I think it's headed towards Brussels, I would say," Morgan replies.

She also wants to travel to Paris.

Then it will go "to the south".

However, she left it open which country it is.

Update from February 9, 1:18 p.m .:

After her presentation as special representative for international climate policy, Jennifer Morgan says she feels “very honored by the trust”.

She accepts this task with joy and determination.

Her goal is to “form a pro-active, cross-departmental team in Germany together with other departments”.

Morgan describes the energy transition as “a clear soft power in Germany”.

This will be actively used.

Baerbock wants to turn foreign missions into "climate embassies" - Morgan special representatives from March 1st

Update from February 9, 1:15 p.m .:

Baerbock states that all 226 German missions abroad will be made into “climate embassies”.

There will be “some conversion and resource rededication” for this.

Update from February 9, 1:05 p.m.:

Annalena Baerbock and Jennifer Morgan's press conference begins.

Today, Germany's international climate policy is getting "a face that is known around the world," stressed the Foreign Minister.

Morgan fits in with Germany's ambitions and climate goals.

From March 1st, she will come to the Federal Foreign Office as a special representative for international climate policy and designated State Secretary.

Baerbock announced that this had already been decided in the cabinet.

According to Baerbock, Jennifer Morgan will steer climate foreign policy as a "tax woman", expand partnerships with other countries and lead the dialogue with civil society worldwide.

Morgan will "formally" serve as a special representative until the completion of her naturalization.

After that she will take on the role of Secretary of State.

Update from February 9th, 12.45 p.m .:

The press conference by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to introduce the US environmental activist, climate expert and Greenpeace International boss Jennifer Morgan will begin shortly.

The minister brings Morgan to the Federal Foreign Office as a special representative for international climate policy.

First report :

Munich – Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock* (Greens) is bringing the previous head of Greenpeace International, Jennifer Morgan, to the Federal Foreign Office as a special representative for international climate policy

, according to a report by

Baerbock brings US climate expert Morgan into the team - first as a special representative, then as a secretary of state

The US environmental activist and climate expert should initially become special representative for international climate policy.

The Federal Cabinet should decide on this on Wednesday.

According to the report, 55-year-old Morgan will later become State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office.

In order to become a civil servant, however, she must first acquire German citizenship.

A corresponding application from the US citizen is already being processed.

Green* politician Baerbock wants to present the personnel at a press conference on Wednesday.

Morgan and the minister are well acquainted with each other from numerous international climate meetings.