Assange Baerbock

Annalena Baerbock and Julian Assange: A Case of Shifting Stances

From Candidate to Minister

In September 2021, Annalena Baerbock, then a Green Party candidate for Chancellor of Germany, demanded Assange's immediate release. However, as Foreign Minister since December 2021, Baerbock's stance on Assange may have shifted.

Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been charged with espionage and computer hacking in the United States. He has been held in the UK since 2019, fighting extradition to the US.

Prominent Supporters Speak Out

Prominent supporters of Assange, such as Roger Waters and Slavoj Žižek, have criticized Baerbock's change in stance. They argue that her previous support for Assange contradicts her current position of deference to the US government.

Shifting Sands

It remains to be seen whether Baerbock will maintain her current position or return to her earlier support for Assange. The case highlights the complex and often shifting nature of political alliances and the role of personal beliefs in the context of diplomatic relations.