Although the nomination of a woman is encouraged, this idea is not unanimous. Latin America claims the position following the tradition of geographic rotation, with candidates such as Michelle Bachelet, Rafael Grossi and Rebeca Grynspan already known informally.
The selection process for the next secretary general of was officially launched this Tuesday, with a call being sent to Member States to present candidacies for the position of António Guterres’ replacement.
In a joint letter sent to the 193 UN member states, Sierra Leone’s ambassador, Michael Imran Kanu, current president of the Security Council, and the president of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, “initiated” the selection process, “requesting candidates”.
“The position of Secretary-General is of great importance and demands the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, as well as a firm commitment to the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter,” they wrote.
They also required candidates with extensive experience in international relations and diplomatic and linguistic skills.
Although some Member States clearly argue that a woman should ultimately be chosen for the position, this idea is not unanimous.
“Noting with regret that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General,” the letter simply encourages Member States to “consider nominating a woman as a candidate.”
Each potential candidate must be officially nominated by a State or group of States, presenting their “vision” and sources of funding.
Who’s in the pipeline?
Several candidates are already known informally, including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, currently heading the United Nations agency for Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Following a tradition of geographical rotation not always respected, the position is this time claimed by Latin America.
But although the letter mentions “the importance of geographic diversity”, it does not mention any specific region.
The letter also indicates that the General Assembly and the Security Council will be able to publicly hear the candidates, a transparency procedure initiated during the 2016 selection that led to António Guterres’ first term.
However, it is the Council members who will begin the selection process “by the end of July”, and, in particular, the five permanent members with veto rights (United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom and France), who really have the future of the candidates in their hands.
It is only on the recommendation of the Council that the Assembly may elect the secretary-general for a five-year term, renewable for a further term.
António Guterres assumed leadership of the UN in January 2017, having been reappointed for a second term, which ends at the end of 2026.
