New York, Nov 29 (V7N) - The United Nations has officially commenced the election process for its next Secretary-General, as current Secretary-General António Guterres approaches the end of his term. The selection is expected to conclude by December, with the newly elected Secretary-General set to take office on January 1, 2027, for a five-year term.
 
The process was initiated through a joint letter issued on November 25 by the presidents of the 15-member UN Security Council and the 193-member General Assembly, inviting member states to nominate candidates for the position. Traditionally, the Secretary-General role rotates among geographic regions, and after Guterres’ tenure representing Eastern Europe, Latin America is prioritized for the upcoming selection, though candidates from other regions may also contest.
 
Confirmed candidates include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, currently serving as a prominent global human rights figure. Costa Rica’s former Vice President, Rebeca Grynspan, now Secretary-General of UNCTAD, has also been nominated. Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, currently Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has declared his candidacy.
 
Potential candidates being discussed include Mexico’s former Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena, New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Bolivia’s Vice President David Choquehuanca, and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva from Bulgaria, among others. Several other figures with significant international experience are also under consideration.
 
The election procedure involves the Security Council conducting secret ballots, known as “straw polls,” to recommend a candidate to the General Assembly. Each candidate receives votes marked as “encourage,” “discourage,” or “no opinion,” and the five veto-wielding permanent members—United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, and France—must agree on the final selection. Once approved by the Security Council, the General Assembly formally appoints the Secretary-General, a process often seen as a ceremonial confirmation.
 
As the UN’s chief administrative officer, the Secretary-General leads the organization diplomatically, administratively, and as its executive head. The current Secretary-General oversees over 30,000 civilian staff and approximately 60,000 peacekeepers, managing an annual regular budget of $3.7 billion and a peacekeeping budget of $5.6 billion.
 
With the election underway, global attention is focused on which candidate will lead the UN through the complex challenges of international diplomacy, peacekeeping, and sustainable development in the coming five years.
 
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