United Nations – Web Desk: Four candidates are set to undergo formal questioning this week in the race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, a significantly smaller field compared to the 13 contenders in 2016 when António Guterres was selected.
The candidates include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Argentine nuclear official Rafael Mariano Grossi, Costa Rica’s former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
They will participate in separate three-hour “interactive dialogue” sessions with ambassadors from the UN’s 193 member states, beginning this week at the General Assembly in New York.
The selection process comes at a time of deep global division, with analysts noting that geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts have weakened the UN’s ability to act decisively on major crises, including wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran.
Diplomatic observers say the reduced number of candidates reflects increased caution among governments, as competition for the top UN post has become more politically sensitive amid strained relations between major powers.
Under the UN system, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council, where the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France hold veto power.
The current Secretary-General, Guterres, is expected to complete his second term on December 31, 2026. Regional rotation norms suggest the next leader could come from Latin America, though Eastern Europe has also long sought representation.
While two of the current candidates are women, international pressure continues for the UN to appoint its first female Secretary-General, with several member states and advocacy groups calling for gender balance at the organization’s highest level.
The final selection will depend heavily on Security Council consensus, making behind-the-scenes diplomacy as important as public hearings in determining who will lead the global body in its next term.
