The race to appoint the next United Nations secretary-general has taken a significant turn as former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her candidacy. This development comes after Bachelet, a prominent advocate for multilateralism and international law, saw her support wane during a recent informal straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council.
Bachelet, who is 74 and has previously served as both a two-time Chilean president and the UN human rights chief, ended her bid to succeed António Guterres. Guterres’ second five-year term as the UN secretary-general is set to conclude on December 31, prompting a competitive search for his successor.
With Bachelet’s exit, the field of candidates has narrowed to seven, though the possibility remains open for new entrants into the race. Among the remaining candidates, Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as a frontrunner based on the latest Security Council straw poll results.
The process of selecting the next UN secretary-general involves the Security Council recommending a candidate to the 193-member UN General Assembly, which will ultimately elect the individual for this significant global role. As the selection process continues, the international community is closely watching to see who will be chosen to lead the United Nations into its next chapter.