Governments are preparing to nominate candidates to lead the 80-year-old organization, traditionally rotating the top job by geographic region, though all U.N. chiefs so far have been men. The General Assembly appoints the Secretary-General based on the Security Council’s recommendation.
An “important” responsibility
“As the year draws to a close, the Council moves closer to selecting the next Secretary-General,” said Danish Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, co-chair of the informal working group on documentation and procedural matters. The Council will soon discuss the voting process, candidate engagement, and how to inform broader membership of the progress.
Russia, with its October presidency of the council, has swiftly worked on the joint invitation letter with the General Assembly for candidate submissions. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya expressed confidence that the document would soon be adopted to officially start the process.
A female leader
The next Secretary-General will serve a five-year term starting January 2027, after current leader António Guterres of Portugal steps down. With no woman ever holding the position, Chile’s representative endorsed an “open, participatory and inclusive process,” advocating for a female leader to enhance the organization’s credibility. He emphasized the importance of regional rotation, suggesting the Latin America and Caribbean region should now lead.
Productive meetings are important
Over 40 countries participated in the debate on the Council’s working methods, known as Note 507, adopted last December. Loraine Sievers, former head of the UN Security Council Secretariat, highlighted the increased importance of meeting conduct due to pressing agenda crises. She noted that statements and draft resolution votes are crucial, but the Council and UN’s credibility hinges on the orderliness and professionalism of meetings.
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