New York : The process to elect the next United Nations secretary general formally kicked off as member states were asked to nominate candidates to take over the role from January 1, 2027.
In a joint letter, the 15-member Security Council and the president of the 193-member General Assembly invited nominations, marking the start of the race to replace António Guterres as the world body’s chief administrator.
The five permanent members of the Security Council who have veto power – the United States, Russia, Britain, China, and France – must agree on a candidate.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the General Assembly, said that the selection of the next Secretary-General comes at a pivotal moment for the United Nations.
She stated, “We are facing escalating conflicts, a rapidly growing climate crisis, increasing humanitarian needs, persistent obstacles to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and increasing pressure on human rights.”
She also noted that the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its centre, is facing increasing financial and political pressures, “at the same time, the world needs the United Nations more than ever.”
She added that the United Nations remains the only organisation capable of bringing together all the countries of the world, and of working on a truly international scale, and is the only one that enjoys political legitimacy and moral authority throughout the world.
