Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet launched the formal hearing process for UN secretary-general candidates on Tuesday, telling member states she hopes the world is now ready to appoint a woman to lead the United Nations for the first time. Bachelet, 74, who was twice president of Chile, served as the country's defence minister, and later led the UN's human rights body as High Commissioner, appeared before all 193 member states in a three-hour session at UN headquarters in New York.
In a pointed reference to the 2016 race, in which António Guterres of Portugal won despite several prominent female contenders, Bachelet said: "If I am polite, I would say the world was not prepared for it. Is it prepared now? I hope so." She described a female appointment as a potential signal of hope for people around the world. Since the United Nations was founded after World War II, all nine secretaries-general have been men.
On the substance of the role, Bachelet argued for a secretary-general who would be a moral voice, maintain a strong diplomatic presence with powerful states, and be visibly active in conflict zones and crisis areas. She called for continued reform of the organisation, which is navigating a serious political and financial crisis, and acknowledged the deep challenge posed by Security Council paralysis — the body's five permanent members each hold veto power, frequently blocking collective action. "I don't have a magic potion," she said frankly.
However, Bachelet faces significant political obstacles. China, one of the five permanent Security Council members, has not forgotten her 2022 report as High Commissioner that documented serious human rights concerns regarding the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China's Xinjiang region. The United States under the current administration may also prove a hurdle, given Bachelet's publicly stated support for abortion rights. Either country could effectively block her appointment through the veto.
Three other candidates are also in contention: Argentina's Rafael Grossi, who currently leads the International Atomic Energy Agency; Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN trade and development body UNCTAD; and former Senegalese president Macky Sall. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the post as "one of the toughest jobs in the world." The new secretary-general is due to take office on 1 January 2027, succeeding Guterres. When asked about her age, Bachelet deflected with characteristic wit: "I have accumulative youth."