The separation of the German foreign minister after 17 years of marriage… and the question is why?

In a joint statement, Annalena Baerbock and her husband Daniel Holfliech confirmed their separation after 17 years of marriage. Nevertheless, the couple stated that they will continue to live together in their home in Potsdam to raise their daughters (9 and 13 years old) in a loving environment. In the political context, Baerbock sparked controversy due to her unwavering support for Israel, especially after her remarks regarding Israel's right to defend itself in the Gaza war. She also drew attention for not wearing her wedding ring while attending the COP29 climate conference.

Annalena Baerbock (from the Green Party) and Daniel Holfliech got married in 2007. After the federal elections in 2021, Daniel Holfliech left his job at the postal services company "DHL" to avoid a conflict of interest with his wife's career as Foreign Minister. The former minister's husband works in communications and lobbying.

The German newspaper "Bild" confirmed that rumors about the deterioration of their relationship had long been circulating in Berlin, but this time the announcement came from both of them; they also confirmed in a joint statement that they have not yet found new partners, and clarified that they are still living in Potsdam with their daughters, who are 9 and 13 years old.

The newspaper pointed out that it was noted that Baerbock was not wearing her wedding ring during her attendance at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which took place in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, from November 11 to 22 of this year.

It is worth mentioning that the newspaper "Zeitgeschehen" published an interview in late July with an African man named "Kingsley," who claimed that Baerbock paid him money for sex during her trips to Africa. German sites denied the validity of the story that was exclusively published by Russian websites, and accused circles close to the minister of Russian intelligence of spreading those rumors to pressure Berlin to change its approach toward Ukraine.

It is noteworthy that the German Foreign Minister is known for her supportive positions towards the Israeli occupation, and her speech in Parliament last month caused widespread outrage on social media after she affirmed her country’s unlimited support for Israel, with some seeing it as justifying the war crimes being committed by Israel in Gaza.

Baerbock stated during her speech—on the occasion of the anniversary of the events of October 7th—that "Israel's security is an essential part of Germany's current existence, and Israel's right to defend itself is also our responsibility."

These statements provoked a wide reaction on social media, especially as she addressed the issue of civilian casualties in the bombings of the Gaza Strip, saying: "Self-defense does not only mean attacking terrorists, but destroying them."

She added that when those she described as "Hamas terrorists" hide behind people and schools, we find ourselves in extremely complex areas, but that does not mean we should avoid them.