A new Secretary-General of the United Nations will be elected next year, and in this context, the four candidates, including two women, pledged to give new breath to the international organization that suffers from many problems, by seeking reforms that allow it to maintain its principles and missions to establish peace and support development in various countries of the world. Has the international organization witnessed a precedent since its establishment in 1945: the election of a woman...?

Published on: 04/23/2026 - 17:55 Last updated: 04/23/2026 - 20:02

Four candidates have entered the competition to succeed António Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations as of the beginning of next year, and the winner or winner will face great challenges due to fluctuations that have shaken the status of the global organization in the past few years.

The former Vice President of Costa Rica, Rebecca Greenspan, and the former President of Chile, Michel Bachelet, along with the former President of Senegal, Macky Sall, and the current head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Argentine Rafael Grossi, are seeking to win the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, interactive dialogues were held with the candidates and broadcast live on United Nations Television.

These marathon sessions took place in front of representatives of member states and civil society, and everyone pledged to continue the reforms of the organization that was founded more than 80 years ago at the end of World War II.

This comes at a time when major powers are seeking to undermine the principles of justice and international laws, and the organization, which includes 193 members, is under intense pressure to reduce costs and “prove its importance.”

Greenspan: "I will be the peacemaker"

Greenspan is an economist born to parents who left Europe after World War II and currently holds the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. She stressed that "making peace is the purpose of this organization," and warned of "the decline in confidence in the international organization and the limited time remaining to restore it."

She also said that reform is essential and that "defending the United Nations today means having the courage to change it."

She added, "I will be a peacemaker. I will reach the regions before conflicts break out, and I will be the first to pick up the phone. I will travel to places of war. I will talk to every party. I will work with the Security Council, and with member states, and I will be among the mediators."

Although Rebecca Greenspan remains relatively unknown to the general public, she has other advantages, according to Anne-Cécile Robert, a journalist at the daily Le Monde Diplomatique and a lecturer at the University of Paris 2, who reported to France 24 that Greenspan “has many connections in addition to knowing how to promote herself in diplomatic circles.”

Bachelet: “I will always stand by women”

For her part, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, 74 years old, stressed support for women's rights when running for office, amid calls from American politicians for the White House to oppose her nomination because of her support for abortion.

She told reporters that she had seen a letter from more than 20 US Republican representatives accusing her of "giving priority to an extremist abortion policy" and calling on Washington to block her nomination.

Bachelet, who previously served as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, added, “I will always stand by women,” adding that her mission as Secretary-General will be to strive to ensure the implementation of the international organization’s programs related to women’s rights.

However, the former Chilean president aroused the dissatisfaction of a number of countries, such as China, during her tenure as head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022.

Alexandra Novoselov, an associate researcher at the University of Paris Panthéon Assas and a specialist in UN affairs, sums up to FRANCE 24 by saying: “She was very assertive in the field of human rights, and this did not please a number of permanent members of the Security Council.”

China had strongly criticized Michel Bachelet's publication of a scathing report on the suffering of the Uyghur minority during that period.

Sal: “Strict management.”

Macky Sall is 64 years old and served as President of Senegal for 12 years, from 2012 to 2024. He is a geologist and an advocate for African development and support for highly indebted countries.

At a hearing on Wednesday, he confirmed that he would seek reforms through “tough management” to ensure better coordination between UN agencies and avoid duplication.

He said on the X platform, "More than ever before, multilateralism in its renewed form remains the best way to deal with the challenges of a world that is witnessing a complete transformation."

He added, "Now is the time to achieve better results with fewer resources," with the aim of creating "a renewed organization capable of seeing that its brighter days lie ahead."

“Saving humanity”... with American blessing

Also among the candidates is Argentine Rafael Grossi, who is 65 years old. This seasoned diplomat rose to prominence when he assumed the presidency of the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2019.

Grossi had spoken at the hearing held on Tuesday before representatives of UN member states and civil society about UN reform and said that it was "moving in the right direction, but it is just the beginning."

It seems that the United States is leaning toward another candidate from Latin America, according to Alexandra Novoselov, an associate researcher at the Thucydides Center at the University of Paris Panthéon Assas, and a specialist in United Nations affairs. She told France 24: “It is no secret that the United States prefers Rafael Grossi at this stage.”

In his nomination letter, the Argentine calls for "the return of the United Nations to its founding principles: saving humanity from the scourge of war." This is a message that is completely consistent with the Trump administration’s directions.

His position has already brought him to grips with Iran's nuclear program and the risks posed by the Zaporozhye nuclear reactor, which is occupied by Russian forces, two critical issues that directly affect many permanent members of the Security Council.

In turn, Anne Cecil sums up, saying: “It is the most widely used name. His profile fits the context, as he is accustomed to negotiating with major powers, and those witnessing major turmoil, including hostile powers. At this stage, this ability to dialogue with major nuclear powers will be decisive.”

The four candidates are competing for a five-year term that can be extended. To date, the number of candidates is much less than in 2016, when Guterres was elected from among 13 candidates, although others could still run in the coming months.

It is noteworthy that no woman has held the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations in the 80-year history of the international organization.

Fares Bouchiah

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