German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her husband, Daniel Holefleisch, have announced their separation, according to a statement released to Bild.
Annalena Baerbock and Daniel Holefleisch, married since August 2007, have confirmed their split after 17 years of marriage. Their joint statement, published by Bild, simply states that they “made the decision some time ago that we are no longer a couple.”
The couple, who have two daughters aged nine and thirteen, prioritized their children’s well-being in their announcement, emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting in a loving environment. They plan to continue residing together in their Potsdam home.
Baerbock and Holefleisch requested privacy, particularly for their children, and indicated no further public comments on their separation. Bild reports the family recently enjoyed a holiday together.
Following Baerbock’s 2021 appointment as Foreign Minister, Holefleisch left his lobbying position at Deutsche Post DHL to avoid potential conflicts of interest. He subsequently joined the public affairs consultancy MSL in May 2022. Media reports suggest his contract included a clause preventing direct contact with Foreign Office leadership.
Last year, Baerbock attributed previous reluctance to discuss her private life to “intensified Russian propaganda” during the Ukraine conflict, offering no further explanation.