Costa Rica has officially nominated Rebeca Grynspan, current secretary-general of UNCTAD, as a candidate for the position of secretary-general of the United Nations. The 69-year-old economist, who was vice-president of Costa Rica, will have as her main competitor the former president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, 74 years old.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, Arnoldo Andréannounced on Wednesday the candidacy of the former Costa Rican vice president during an event for the diplomatic corps in San José. Grynspan, defended André é “the most qualified” e “your candidacy will put the country at the top”.
69-year-old economist, Rebecca Grynspan As head of UNCTAD, since 2021, he has faced significant challenges in international trade. A trade war launched by the United States under the leadership of Donald Trump made his task even more complicated this year.
With a degree in economics from the University of Costa Rica, Grynspan obtained her master’s degree from the University of Sussex, in the United Kingdom, and He held several positions in his country’s government. From 1994 to 1998, it was vice-president in Government of the centrist president José Maria Figueres.
Chile nominates Michelle Bachelet
In September, the Chile announced the candidacy of its former president, Michelle Bachelet, 74 years old, to succeed António Guterresaged 76, who will complete the your second term on December 31, 2026.
Since its founding in 1945, the UN has never had a woman as leader. Only one Latin American, the Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllarled the UN between 1982 and 1991.
Already on the ground, Michelle Bachelet met this Wednesday in Montevideo with the Uruguayan President, Yangines orsiwith whom he discussed the importance of a Latin American woman being the next leader of the United Nations.
After a meeting lasting almost an hour in the Uruguayan capital, where she participated in an event organized by the Club of Madrid, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said she had agree to apply for leadershipat the proposal of the Chilean President Gabriel Boricconsidering its political, management and United Nations experience.
“We will do everything in our power to ensure that it is a woman from the region”, the next secretary general, concluded Bachelet.
