FOREIGN MINISTER ON THE MOVEBaerbock reveals her secret of freshness
Three countries visited, 31,201.8 flight kilometers and 48 hours on board the Air Force are behind Annalena Baerbock (42, Greens) after this week. How does the Foreign Minister stay productive in this marathon program?
▶︎ Sunday evening to Monday noon, 3 flight hours: Berlin – Luxembourg and back!
In between, Baerbock takes part in the foreign ministers' meeting. Actually, Minister of State Anna Lührmann (40, Greens, responsible for Europe) should represent her - but after the aborted Prigoschin putsch it was important to the Foreign Minister to be there herself.
︎ On Monday afternoon (2 p.m.) the delegation trip to South Africa will continue – Baerbock has shortened the day by one day because of the EU meeting. Means: 12 hours outward flight, 12 on site, 13 back.
Advantage on long-haul routes: Baerbock has a conference room in the large Airbus A350 of the federal government ("Theodor Heuss", tactical number 10+02) in which a bed can be set up ("private office") and can take a shower on the plane. She also makes sure to adapt her meals to the local rhythm.
On Wednesday morning she lands back in Berlin, at night she goes to Mongolia. Another 9 hours on the plane, sleep early, eat nothing late at night.
On the way, Baerbock is repeatedly briefed by her team in order to be well prepared in the endurance run between the individual appointments and encounters. In an emergency, visible signs of tiredness are concealed by the accompanying stylist.
BILD knows that the minister takes running shoes with her on every trip and goes jogging whenever she can. Not only to see interiors - but also to recharge your batteries. During the Ukraine conference in London a week ago, for example, she was jogging in Hyde Park at 5:30 in the morning.
But sometimes, like at the beginning of the Baltic Sea Council in Wismar four weeks ago, fatigue wins out. Baerbock had just come from the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers - and just had to sleep in.