Doha [Qatar], September 25: The second term of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ends on December 31, with seven candidates currently competing to lead the world body from January 1, 2027.
The candidates include Rafael Grossi of Argentina, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who advocates administrative reforms; Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, secretary-general of UNCTAD, who focuses on data-driven development policies; former Senegalese president Macky Sall, who supports debt relief and greater representation for Africa; Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, former president of the UN General Assembly, who emphasizes restoring trust in the organization; Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who prioritizes climate action and support for small states; Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu, who calls for institutional reform and AI governance; and Ecuadorian diplomat Yvonne Abdul-Baki, nominated by Tonga, who advocates preventive diplomacy.
Three rounds of secret, informal and non-binding straw polls have revealed a closely contested race among the candidates.
The next UN chief will be selected through consultations among member states and the Security Council, with consensus among the permanent members expected to play a decisive role.In the formal vote at the Security Council, a candidate needs at least nine votes and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom.
No woman has served as UN secretary-general since the organization was established in 1945, while four of the seven current candidates are women. There have also been calls for the next secretary-general to come from Latin America and the Caribbean, based on the principle of geographic rotation.
Source: Qatar Tribune