Chile nominates Bachelet as first candidate for UN secretary-general

Key Concepts

• UN Secretary-General Succession: The upcoming replacement of António Guterres as UN Secretary-General.
• Geographic Rotation: The unwritten tradition of rotating the Secretary-General position among different world regions.
• Gender Parity: The push for a female Secretary-General to address gender imbalance in UN leadership.
• UN Legitimacy Crisis: The challenges facing the UN’s relevance and effectiveness in the current global landscape.
• Security Council Dynamics: The critical role of the Security Council and its current divisions in the selection process.

The Race for the Next UN Secretary-General

The current United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, is nearing the end of his term, initiating a process to select his successor. A significant aspect of this transition is a growing consensus, championed by Guterres himself, advocating for a female leader. He highlighted the existing “parity” at the senior staff level within the UN but emphasized the need for women in leadership positions globally, stating, “it’s time to see women… in the leadership positions of the most powerful countries in the world.”

Michelle Bachelet’s Candidacy and Regional Support

Chile’s President Gabriel Boric has formally nominated Michelle Bachelet as the first official candidate for the position. Bachelet, a former two-term President of Chile, brings substantial UN experience, having served as the first Executive Director of UN Women and later as the High Commissioner for Human Rights. This candidacy is supported by Mexico and Brazil, representing a unified front from the two most populous nations in Latin America.

The UN’s Current Challenges and Need for Reform

The international organization, established post-World War II to foster peace, security, human rights, development, and multilateralism, is facing a profound crisis. The report notes questioning of the UN’s relevance even from founding members like the United States, amidst escalating global crises including conflicts, climate change, inequalities, and technological disruptions, coupled with growing “institutional mistrust.” The UN is described as needing to “renew itself to continue to be legitimate, more modern, efficient, transparent, and oriented towards results.”

Geographic Rotation and Competition

While not formally enshrined in the UN Charter, an unwritten agreement exists to rotate the Secretary-General position among different regions. With the current Secretary-General originating from Portugal (Europe), it is now considered Latin America’s turn. Bachelet is the first to formally enter the race, but faces competition from several other candidates, including:

• Rebecca Greenspan: Former Vice President of Costa Rica and economist.
• Maria Fernanda Espinosa: Former Foreign Minister of Ecuador.
• Rafael Graciela: From Argentina.
• Mia Mottley: Prime Minister of Barbados.

The candidate pool is expected to expand before the election process commences in April.

The Security Council Hurdle

The selection process requires unanimous backing from the UN Security Council. However, the report emphasizes that the Council is currently deeply divided, making agreement on necessary reforms – crucial for the UN’s survival – increasingly difficult. This presents a significant obstacle to any candidate, regardless of qualifications or regional support.

Conclusion

The selection of the next UN Secretary-General is occurring at a critical juncture for the organization. The push for a female leader, coupled with the expectation of regional rotation towards Latin America, introduces new dynamics to the traditionally complex selection process. However, the deep divisions within the Security Council and the broader crisis of legitimacy facing the UN pose substantial challenges to securing a consensus and ensuring the organization’s continued relevance in a rapidly changing world.