The election of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations faces complex challenges including crises and political issues in the Middle East. This election depends on one of the seven candidates currently in this race, who must gain the support of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
The Tenure of António Guterres and Upcoming Challenges
António Guterres, the former Prime Minister of Portugal who has led the UN since January 2017, is nearing the end of his second five-year term by December 31. His leadership has been marked by major crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran, and Sudan, as well as tensions among major powers. Guterres has paid special attention to climate change issues and international cooperation in artificial intelligence, emphasizing the reform of international institutions.
Candidates and Middle East Perspectives
The process of selecting Guterres' successor has reached the informal polling stage of the Security Council. The Security Council is holding additional rounds to introduce a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly of the United Nations. The five permanent members of the Security Council, including the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom, must agree on a candidate, after which the General Assembly will officially appoint the new Secretary-General. The new Secretary-General will begin their work on January 1, 2027.
In this race, there is a possibility of electing the first female Secretary-General of the United Nations. Rebecca Greenspan, 70, from Costa Rica, is recognized as the leading candidate. She received 10 “encouragement” votes in the fourth Security Council poll. Greenspan, who previously served as the Vice President of Costa Rica and is now the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, emphasizes economic development and reform of the multilateral system.
Caroline Rodrigues-Birket, the representative of Guyana at the UN and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of that country, has also emphasized strengthening multilateralism and reforming the organization. She received 8 “encouragement” votes in the recent poll. Rafael Grossi, the Argentine candidate and Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is also in this race and received 8 “encouragement” votes in the poll.
The competition for the new Secretary-General is heavily influenced by the demands of the permanent members of the Security Council, with Russia seeking a less critical approach to its actions in Ukraine and the United States looking to reduce UN costs and strengthen relations with Israel.
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