The UN chooses its leadership against a global backdrop shaped by war

Four candidates are competing to succeed António Guterres in a process marked by the weight of the Security Council and the tensions of the international order.

Last week in New York, the four candidates to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General took part in public hearings ahead of the appointment of the organization's next leader. There are four candidates, three Latin Americans and one African: Michelle Bachelet (Chile), former High Commissioner for Human Rights; Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development; and Macky Sall (Senegal), former president of Senegal.

Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly, said shortly before the dialogues began that being UN Secretary-General is one of the most difficult jobs in the world and also one of the most important. “The next Secretary-General will not only shape the future of this institution but, in their role as the foremost defender of the UN Charter, will also shape the rules-based international order,” Baerbock stated.

This is the second time the UN has opened these public forums for candidates to present their proposals and answer questions from Member States and civil society organizations. The aim was to give greater visibility to an election that for decades was determined almost exclusively by agreements among the world's major powers.

The United Nations is entering a decisive stage for its future; the process will continue with public hearings and closed-door negotiations. Even so, the focus is on the Security Council as the key actor, amid calls for greater transparency and democratic balance. The Council will begin with private consultations among its members to build agreements and avoid vetoes. The process may extend for weeks or months. Once consensus is reached, the General Assembly will formalize the appointment for the term beginning in 2027.

How the UN election works

The post of Secretary-General is one of the most influential internationally; despite this, the appointment is not a traditional open competition: the General Assembly votes on the nomination, but the Security Council screens the candidates.

The Security Council is made up of 15 members, five of which have veto power: the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom and France. “If any of them rejects a candidate, that candidate is out of the race. In practice, only those who achieve consensus among those powers move forward,” the rules state.

The Council's structure explains the weight of geopolitics in the election. Although public hearings are currently gaining ground, the key decisions are made in private meetings between ambassadors, and there are no formal requirements regarding the candidates' nationality, gender or background. Latin America, however, has held the post only once, with Peru's Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1982-1991).

Following deliberation in the Security Council, the General Assembly formalizes the appointment and the new Secretary-General will take office on January 1, 2027.

The main candidates

Michelle Bachelet was president of Chile for two non-consecutive terms, 2006-2010 and 2014-2018; in addition to executive experience in her country, she also has an international track record. She headed UN Women and was UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Mexico and Brazil are the countries backing her candidacy, and Chile withdrew its support once José Antonio Kast took office as president.

Rebeca Grynspan is an economist and former vice president of Costa Rica who currently heads UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development). She also took part in key negotiations such as the Black Sea Initiative between Russia and Ukraine.  She is a candidate who, owing to her technical profile and multilateral experience, has the consensus to succeed Guterres. 

Macky Sall was president of Senegal from 2012 to 2024 and is the African option alongside the three Latin Americans. Although he has received the backing of the African Union, he faces criticism over his domestic record in his country.

The last is Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi, who has headed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2019. He has stood out for his central role in crises such as the Iranian nuclear program and the situation at the Zaporizhzhia plant. He promotes an agenda focused on global security and the UN's historic role in preventing conflicts.

Grossi's hearing

During his presentation at United Nations headquarters in New York, Grossi said the general feeling is that war is prevailing and that this reaches every continent, and he called for abandoning a passive stance. “We cannot sit on the sidelines,” he said.

Grossi proposed a more pragmatic approach for the UN, arguing that although principles must serve as a compass, the institution was not created to “speak from an ivory tower” but to solve problems on the ground. Finally, he called for more active and visible leadership because “kind words are not enough.”

Although Rebeca Grynspan is reportedly the frontrunner so far, Rafael Grossi is a candidate who does not generate strong rejection among the major powers, which positions him as a competitive alternative in the final stretch of the process.

Guillermo Whpei

President of Fundación para la Democracia