Despite the parts book illustration I am not sure that connecting rod is supposed to be straight. The ones on my car each had a little bend which was necessary to clear another part of the lock assembly.
take a close look before you straighten something that might not need straightening.
BTW, The plastic pieces at both ends of the connecting rod are 1/2 of a ball and socket connection. Both are very tight and hard to release, the top one will try your patience. you really don’t want to remove that connecting rod unless you have to, because getting it back on is equally frustrating.
As for your key movement. The key moves 90° to one side to unlock and then returns to vertical, the key moves 90° to the other side to lock and then returns to vertical.
Larry