Six candidates compete to become next UN Secretary-General
Six candidates are competing to replace Antonio Guterres as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The candidates which include four women and two men vying to succeed Guterres are; Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador), Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana), Macky Sall (Senegal).
The next UN chief will be chosen by the 15-member UN Security Council before the name is sent to the UN General Assembly for final approval.
To be selected, a candidate must get at least nine votes in the Security Council and must not be vetoed by any of the five permanent members — the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia.
Many observers believe Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is one of the strongest contenders.
Michelle Bachelet is Chile’s former president and former UN human rights chief. She says the UN leader must have the courage to speak out even when major powers disagree.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, a former foreign minister of Ecuador and former President of the UN General Assembly, wants major reforms at the UN and has proposed an early warning system to help prevent conflicts.
Rebeca Grynspan, who heads the UN trade and development agency (UNCTAD), is known for helping to broker the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana’s ambassador to the UN, says the organisation must rebuild its credibility and strengthen its work on development and human rights.
Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, is the only candidate from Africa. He believes peace and development must go hand in hand, although he has faced criticism over his handling of political protests while in office.
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