The former Chilean president Michelle Bacheletcandidate for secretary general of the UNsaid Tuesday that she hopes the world is finally “ready” to have a woman in that position.
Since the creation of the United Nations At the end of the Second World War, all nine secretaries general have been men, and for several years many countries have been advocating for the appointment of a woman.
In 2016, despite there being several candidates, Antonio Guterres won the contest.
“If I’m being polite, I’d say the world wasn’t ready. Is it now? I hope so,” he said. Bachelet to journalists at the end of three hours of hearing before the Member States.
“It would be a very positive sign (…) It would give hope to many people,” he added.
In a world torn apart by wars, the candidate asked the Member States to rebuild trust in the UNin particular giving continuity to the reform of the organization, mired in the midst of a political and financial crisis.
He also advocated for a sgeneral secretary “very present on the ground”, who is “the voice of morality” and capable of “saying what he thinks” even under pressure from powerful States.
Although distrust of the UN is often illustrated by the paralysis of the Security Council On numerous hot-button issues, Bachelet acknowledged that she did not have a formula to change things.
UN Secretary General António Guterres in an archive photograph. Photo: EFE
“I don’t have a magic potion that I can give to the Member States, and in particular to the 5P (the five permanent members of the Security Council), so that they drink it and everyone becomes friends,” he declared to the press.
Two other Latin Americans and an African aspire to obtain what the president of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbockhas described as “one of the hardest jobs in the world.”
The Member States plan to listen to the other candidates until Wednesday: the Argentine Rafael Grossi65 years old, the Costa Rican Rebecca Grynspan70, and the Senegalese Macky Sal64.
Asked what makes her the best candidate to succeed the Portuguese Guterres On January 1, 2027, Michelle Bachelet, 74, insisted on her “extensive experience.”
But “don’t talk to me about age,” he said. “I always say that I have a cumulative youth.”
This Tuesday Grossi was also heard in court. The Argentine diplomat stressed the need for the next secretary general to “really” go on the ground, highlighting his experience in that regard at the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“I hope that we have, and that I am for you, a secretary general who not only takes sides, but also acts and is part of the solution to the problems related to the use of force in international relations,” he declared.
Guterres has been criticized for not directly getting involved and influencing conflicts in Ukraine or in Middle East.
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