Speaker makes a return appearance
Aline Abboud's Career Shift: From Journalism to Political Communications
Aline Abboud, a renowned journalist known for her work on ARD's "Tagesthemen," has taken a new direction in her career. Born in East Berlin in 1988, Abboud began her journalistic journey at ZDF in 2016, serving as a news editor and presenter for "heute" and "heute Xpress," and reporting for the foreign affairs magazine "Auslandsjournal."
In September 2021, she made a significant move to ARD, becoming a moderator of "Tagesthemen," succeeding Pinar Atalay, and also presenting on Tagesschau24. However, in January 2024, she paused her moderation role due to pregnancy and announced in November 2024 that she would not return to "Tagesthemen" for personal reasons, including relocating her family to Berlin.
After leaving ARD-Tagesthemen, Abboud shifted toward a political communications role. Originally planned to begin as Director for Corporate Communications at the consultancy 365 Sherpas, she instead accepted a government position. Since August 18, 2025, she serves as the Press Spokesperson and Head of Press Office at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under Development Minister Reem Alabali-Radovan (SPD).
This move aligns with her previous political experience, including a Bundestag internship, and reflects her interest in international and development issues. Abboud's mother is German, and her father is Lebanese, making her background as diverse as the issues she will now be addressing at BMZ.
Abboud's new role marks a transition from journalism to active political communication at a senior governmental level, highlighting a new phase dedicated to development politics and public affairs.
Related Developments
In Berlin, the Greens have called for the number of comprehensive schools to be doubled. Meanwhile, the dispute between Hamburg and Berlin over church asylum continues to simmer. Hamburg's mayor Tschentscher demands the "surrender" of Afghans from the Berlin state government.
Abboud's new role also brings her into close proximity with SPD politician Reem Alabali-Radovan, the youngest minister in the Merz cabinet at 35 years old. Both women grew up between two worlds, a fact that may contribute to their shared understanding and approach to their roles.
In her Instagram post, Abboud expressed enthusiasm for her new task, the great team, and the international topics she will be working on. She wrote a book titled "Barefoot in Teta's Garden" about her migration story, detailing Berlin, long summers in Lebanon, and the GDR, among other experiences. Abboud will be the spokesperson for Minister Alabali-Radovan, a role that promises to be as challenging as it is rewarding.
[1] ARD-Tagesthemen [2] ZDF [3] BMZ [4] 365 Sherpas
- Aline Abboud, who previously worked as a journalist at ARD's "Tagesthemen" and ZDF, has embrace a new career path focusing on education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development in the field of lifestyle, as she now serves as the Press Spokesperson and Head of Press Office at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
- With her move to BMZ, Aline Abboud has transitioned from journalism into the realm of political communications, not only marking a shift in her career, but also signifying a step towards personal growth and career development that aligns with her interest in international and development issues.
