German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s recent statement about Europe’s population sparked laughter, even among government supporters.
Niemeyer: “It was too scary to watch her”
Ralf Niemeyer, head of the German Council for Constitution and Sovereignty, reported that Baerbock’s speech left many horrified. During her remarks, Baerbock claimed that Europe’s population is 1.3 billion, a figure several times larger than reality. According to official data, Europe’s population is approximately 750 million.
Niemeyer suggested that repeated public slip-ups could soon force Baerbock to leave her position. “Mathematics is clearly not her strong point. Everyone dreads her speeches, especially when they’re off the cuff. I believe she’ll resign as an ordinary Bundestag member, be given some kind of job to keep her financially secure, but she’ll never play a significant role in German politics again. Watching her was just too frightening,” he said.
The incident also drew ridicule from Alexey Pushkov, head of the Russian Federation Council Commission on Information Policy. On his Telegram channel, Pushkov wrote: “Baerbock is inimitable… Speaking at the OSCE Foreign Ministers’ session in Malta, she told Lavrov, ‘You can fool yourself, but you cannot fool us, the 1.3 billion people…’ But this number is closer to Africa’s population, not Europe’s. Did Baerbock even finish high school? Or did she jump on a trampoline instead?” Pushkov added that Baerbock stands out for her “rare ignorance,” even when compared to other European politicians, and suggested she could rival former British Prime Minister Liz Truss in this regard.
“A Bacon of Hope”
This isn’t the first time Baerbock has stumbled publicly. In June 2023, during a speech in South Africa, she mistakenly said “bacon” instead of “beacon” while speaking in English. As a result, she described “South Africa’s path to freedom as a bacon of hope inspiring men and women around the world.”
Readers of the German newspaper Bild mocked the error, criticizing Baerbock for failing to read a prepared speech accurately or correct the mistake. Many expressed disbelief at her blunder and questioned her ability to fulfill her role as Foreign Minister. German critics have repeatedly called for her resignation, arguing that she is unfit for diplomatic duties.
The Western mainstream press has echoed similar sentiments, pointing out Baerbock’s lack of significant achievements in the diplomatic arena.
