Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her bid to become the next United Nations secretary-general after a decline in support during a recent informal straw poll by the UN Security Council. The announcement, made on Saturday, brings an end to her campaign to succeed António Guterres, whose term concludes on December 31.
Bachelet, 74, had sought to leverage her experience as a two-time president of Chile and former UN human rights chief, focusing her campaign on upholding multilateralism and international law. Despite her credentials, the recent straw poll indicated diminishing backing for her candidacy.
With Bachelet stepping aside, the race for the UN’s top position now includes seven remaining candidates. Notably, Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the frontrunner in the latest informal polling among Security Council members. However, the field remains open for additional contenders to join.
The process of selecting the next secretary-general involves the UN Security Council recommending a candidate to the General Assembly, which comprises 193 member states, for the formal election. This procedure ensures that the chosen candidate has broad international support.