Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has officially withdrawn from the contest to become the next United Nations secretary-general, ending a campaign that failed to gain meaningful traction within the UN Security Council. The 74-year-old announced her decision on Saturday through a video posted on Instagram, stating, "I will now continue, with the same determination as always, my international work."
Campaign Built on Multilateralism and International Law
Bachelet, who served two terms as Chile's president and previously headed the UN's human rights office, had centered her campaign on defending multilateralism and international law. She argued that these principles were facing serious and sustained threats in the current global climate. Her candidacy, however, did not translate into sufficient backing among the Security Council's 15 members.
The withdrawal came just one day after the third informal straw poll, held on Friday, revealed that Bachelet's support within the Security Council had nearly collapsed. The same poll indicated that Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan currently holds the lead in the race, positioning her as a frontrunner among the remaining candidates.
Seven Candidates Remain in the Contest
With Bachelet's exit, seven candidates remain in the running to replace Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second five-year term concludes on December 31, 2026. The field could still expand, as the window for new candidates to enter the race has not yet closed, meaning additional nominations may emerge in the coming weeks.
The Security Council will ultimately submit a single recommended candidate to the 193-member General Assembly. A formal vote by the General Assembly is widely regarded as a procedural step once the Council reaches agreement on a name, making the Council's internal deliberations the decisive stage of the selection process. The next straw poll is expected to gauge how the remaining candidates fare following Bachelet's departure.
