The Race for UN Secretary-General: Selection Process, Candidates, and Historic Opportunity for Female Leadership

A candidate for the UN Secretary-General position must be nominated by a member state of the United Nations.

United Nations:

The election for a new United Nations Secretary-General will take place next year, with the successful candidate beginning a five-year term on January 1, 2027.

Below are the current potential candidates and the selection process to determine Antonio Guterres' successor:

The official selection process begins when the 15-member Security Council and the president of the 193-member General Assembly issue a joint letter requesting nominations, which is expected by the end of this year. Only candidates nominated by UN member states are eligible for consideration.

Traditionally, the position rotates among geographic regions. When Guterres from Portugal was elected in 2016, Eastern Europe was technically next in line. Latin America is expected to be next, although diplomats anticipate candidates from various regions may emerge.

Several candidates have already publicly declared their interest, even before the formal process begins:

Michelle Bachelet of Chile: President Gabriel Boric announced on September 23, 2025, that Chile will nominate former President Michelle Bachelet. She made history as Chile's first female president, serving two terms. Bachelet previously served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018-2022) and Executive Director of UN Women (2010-2013).

Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica: On October 8, 2025, President Rodrigo Chaves announced Costa Rica's nomination of former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan. The 69-year-old politician and economist currently serves as Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Rafael Grossi of Argentina: When asked by Reuters on September 3, 2025, veteran Argentinian diplomat Rafael Grossi confirmed his intention to run. Grossi currently serves as Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a position he has held since 2019.

The 15-member Security Council will formally recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly through a series of secret straw polls. During these polls, council members indicate whether they "encourage," "discourage," or have "no opinion" regarding each candidate.

Ultimately, the five permanent, veto-wielding council members (United States, Russia, Britain, China, and France) must reach consensus on a candidate. Their ballots are traditionally a different color from those of the ten elected members. When Guterres was selected in 2016, six straw polls were required before the Security Council reached agreement.

The Security Council then adopts a resolution behind closed doors recommending a candidate to the General Assembly. This resolution requires nine favorable votes and no vetoes to pass. The General Assembly's subsequent approval has historically been considered a formality.

The United Nations has been working to improve the transparency of this historically opaque selection process. A General Assembly resolution adopted in September 2025 requires candidates to provide vision statements upon formal nomination and make these statements publicly available on a dedicated UN website.

The resolution also requires candidates to disclose funding sources and suggests that candidates already holding UN positions consider suspending their work during the campaign to avoid conflicts of interest.

The UN Charter defines the Secretary-General as the "chief administrative officer" of the organization. The role combines diplomatic, advocacy, civil service, and executive responsibilities.

Currently, Guterres oversees more than 30,000 civilian staff and 11 peacekeeping operations involving approximately 60,000 troops and police personnel. The core annual UN budget is $3.7 billion, with an additional $5.6 billion for peacekeeping operations.

Since the Security Council alone holds the authority to authorize military force or sanctions, the Secretary-General's power is largely limited to moral influence. Many diplomats note that the five permanent Security Council members generally prefer a "secretary" rather than a "general."

In the UN's 80-year history, no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General. The September 2025 General Assembly resolution noted this fact "with regret" and encouraged member states to "strongly consider nominating women as candidates."