EU’s Ribera joins push for first woman to lead UN

European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera has expressed her willingness to see a woman assume the role of the next U.N. secretary-general, marking the first time such a position will be held by a woman in the organization's history. Ribera's statement, made on the social media platform Bluesky, comes as speculation intensifies over who will replace outgoing U.N. chief António Guterres, whose second and final five-year term ends in December 2026.

Guterres' successor is set to assume office on January 1, 2027. Among the seven candidates vying for the position are four women: Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana, Ivonne A-Baki from Ecuador, and María Fernanda Espinosa from Ecuador. Nine U.N. secretaries-general have been men thus far. Ribera's support aligns with that of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who, during an interview on comedian Jon Stewart's podcast, emphasized the importance of having the first woman lead the U.N. after 80 years of a multilateral order.

Sánchez described himself as a "feminist politician." The race to replace Guterres is taking place amid growing pressure on the U.N. to overhaul its finances and structure, with the U.S. demanding reforms. U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly suggested FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the job, though the U.S. has not formally nominated him.

The U.N. will face funding shortfalls and calls for structural changes, with the U.S. State Department stating that candidates must "get the U.N. back to basics and publicly commit to the changes we require." For the Security Council to recommend a candidate, they must secure at least nine votes from its five permanent members, as per organization rules.