Six candidates for UN chief present visions in New York town hall
Six hopefuls for the United Nations secretary-general post shared their priorities and fielded questions from diplomats and civil society on Thursday, one week before the first informal straw poll in the Security Council.
The six candidates vying to become the next UN secretary-general convened at the General Assembly Hall on Thursday to present their visions and answer questions in a 90-minute event broadcast by Bloomberg. The hopefuls include Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Senegal's Macky Sall.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock opened the town hall, calling it a rare chance to engage with the candidates' ideas and leadership visions. She stressed the need for a leader who can defend the UN Charter and its three pillars, amid the organization's deep financial and confidence crisis.
The United Nations is under fire from the Trump administration, which accuses it of reckless spending and failing to deliver results. The US demands a return to the core mission of peace and security, while other states emphasize human rights and development as equally important.
Analysts note that the campaign lacks energy compared to the 2016 race. Candidates are cautious not to offend the US and other veto powers. Most stressed the need for continued reforms and a stronger role for the secretary-general in global peace efforts.
On July 30, the 15 Security Council members will hold their first anonymous straw poll. The process will continue until one candidate secures nine votes without a veto from any permanent member (US, UK, China, France, Russia). The final candidate will be appointed by the General Assembly and take office on January 1, 2027.
Rafael Grossi is frequently mentioned as a front-runner, but the race remains open, with Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett also having significant support. Some diplomats suggest a dark horse could emerge, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino also rumored as a possible candidate backed by President Trump. Under a geographic rotation tradition, the post is expected to go to Latin America this time; Sall is the only candidate not from that region. Many states are pressing for a female secretary-general for the first time.
