Inside the Process for Selecting a New UN Secretary-General
Eight candidates remain as Security Council straw polls continue, while P5 divisions could still force a late compromise.
- With United Nations Secretary-General Guterres stepping down Dec. 31, the search for his successor is underway, with eight candidates currently competing through straw polls among the 15 Security Council members.
- While the process now includes General Assembly-convened "interactive dialogues" involving member states, the five permanent Council members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—retain veto power over the final recommendation.
- Georgina Holmes of the Open University notes the decision rests on Russia, China, and the United States, which seek an "administrator" they can control, contrasting with the membership's desire for an independent, proactive leader.
- Deadlocks often occur when permanent members disagree, and a former official says it is widely expected that it is the Latin American and Caribbean states' turn to hold the office.
- The next chief faces a body starved of cash and at odds with President Donald Trump, who questioned the relevance of the United Nations, requiring them to balance diplomat, normative leader, and manager roles.
28 Articles
28 Articles
The Conversation
The race for a new UN chief comes at a historically fraught time – the choice will be vital and significant, just don’t expect a savior
The race to replace U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres may cast a shadow. Vyacheslav Prokofyev/AFP via Getty ImagesWhen António Guterres steps down as United Nations secretary-general at the end of 2026, he will leave his successor with plenty to do. Many challenges will remain, including the animosity among members and myriad global challenges, from ongoing wars and economic shocks to the worsening effects of climate change. But the next U…
The 81st UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday 8 September in New York, when the organization was paralyzed by the great powers and threatened with financial asphyxiation. Before the departure of António Guterres at the end of December, however, it will have to appoint its successor after a complex procedure, where the United States always has the last word.
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