The race to become the next United Nations secretary-general has taken a significant turn following the withdrawal of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. Her decision to step back from the candidacy comes after an informal straw poll revealed dwindling support within the UN Security Council.
Bachelet, who is 74 and has previously served as Chile’s president twice, had positioned her campaign on the pillars of defending multilateralism and international law. Her withdrawal narrows the field to seven remaining candidates, though the possibility of new entrants remains open.
The current secretary-general, António Guterres, is set to conclude his second five-year term on December 31. As the selection process continues, Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as a frontrunner in the latest Security Council straw poll.
The upcoming decision will see the Security Council recommending one candidate to the 193-member UN General Assembly, which holds the authority to formally elect the next secretary-general. The evolving dynamics within the selection process highlight the complex nature of international diplomacy and leadership within the UN.