{
  "id": 5668362,
  "title": "Bachelet concedes difficulty of her UN bid: \"I know I'm not going to be secretary-general\"",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/bachelet-concedes-difficulty-of-her-un-bid-i-know-im-not-going-to-be",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MercoPress",
    "slug": "mercopress",
    "url": "https://en.mercopress.com/2026/09/04/bachelet-concedes-difficulty-of-her-un-bid-i-know-i-m-not-going-to-be-secretary-general"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has candidly admitted that she doubts her chances of becoming United Nations secretary-general. At a public event in Santiago, Bachelet explained her motivation for running, stating that her ambition may stem from knowing she is unlikely to secure the position. This candid remark emerged during a panel discussion on migration, organized by Diego Portales University, two weeks after the Security Council's second informal vote. Bachelet's candidacy has struggled, falling to seventh place in the most recent poll, trailing behind other contenders such as Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett from Guyana and Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica. The field currently includes seven candidates, none of whom have secured the nine favorable votes necessary for a clear lead. Bachelet, who served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022, has been nominated by Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. However, her support in Chile waned after the country's government change in late March. Bachelet's candidacy has been bolstered by backing from Brazil and Mexico. She has criticized the United States for its stance on reproductive rights and highlighted the organization's liquidity crisis, citing the United States' long-standing non-payment and China's late contributions. Bachelet emphasized the need for reform to address funding issues, acknowledging that the UN is facing challenges in delivering more with limited resources.",
  "summary": "Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet acknowledged on Thursday the difficulties facing her candidacy for United Nations secretary-general. Asked at a public event in Santiago why she wants to lead the organization, she replied in a light tone: \"That's what I ask myself. Perhaps because I know I'm not going to be secretary-general.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}