The U.N.’s Next Leader Will Be Either a Secretary or a General
The race to succeed António Guterres has started—and four very different candidates are in the running.
The United Nations is in desperate need of an unbiased leader, as the organization grapples with conflicts from around the globe. The upcoming election for the next United Nations secretary-general is poised to bring a much-needed change, as the world faces numerous challenges that require an unbiased interlocutor. The election of the next United Nations secretary-general is expected to come at a time when the organization is in dire need of a peacemaker-in-chief, irrespective of national affiliations.
The election race is heating up, with eight candidates vying for the position. A former U.N. diplomat hinted that the P5—the permanent five Security Council members—will determine whether the next leader is a secretary or a general. While a general might take a more hands-on approach to the various conflicts engulfing the world, powerful countries seem to prefer a secretary who can manage the clashing interests of global powers without attracting undue attention.
The sitting U.N. chief, António Guterres, has faced tough times under U.S. President Donald Trump, who has openly expressed his contempt for the United Nations and its values. Trump’s successor will have to navigate a minefield, as the United States links its funding to further national interests. China, being the second-biggest contributor to the organization, is also clamoring for a bigger say in the decision-making process.
Russia, too, intends to exploit its position on the U.N. Security Council (UNSC) to gain leverage in other theaters. The selection process has already begun, with two rounds of informal voting held by the 15 members of the Security Council. The next leader is believed to be from Latin America, with four of the eight candidates being women.
Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan is among the top candidates, having been the front-runner in the first straw poll conducted by the UNSC. Winning nine "encourage" votes and avoiding any vetoes from the permanent members is the key to securing the top U.N. position. Grynspan would be the first woman and the first Jew to hold the high-ranking position, at a time when Israel's relationship with the organization has been strained.
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