Candidates for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations present their visions in interactive dialogues broadcast on television

As of January 1, 2027, a new person will take over the reins on the 38th floor of United Nations Headquarters. After ten years in office, during which he completed the maximum number of terms allowed – two terms – António Guterres will leave office.

His successor’s role will not only be to navigate profound political and financial challenges, but will also be tasked with moving forward with fundamental reforms to ensure that the United Nations remains fit to meet the challenges of the future, at a time when the organization and international law are under direct attacks.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the four candidates for the position will participate in sessions held by the United Nations General Assembly, where they will present their visions for the future of the United Nations, and answer questions from member states and civil society representatives about their leadership experiences and qualifications, the process of reforming the United Nations, and the three pillars on which the organization is based: peace and security, development, and human rights.

Who are the four candidates?

🔹Michelle Bachelet (Chile)

🔹Rafael Grossi (Argentina)

🔹Rebecca Greenspan (Costa Rica)

🔹Makki Sall (Senegal)

“The hardest job in the world”

The interactive dialogues are being held at the invitation of the President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, who told reporters this Tuesday morning – shortly before the start of the first dialogue session – that these dialogues represent a decisive step in the selection process, a process that comes, in her words, at a defining moment for the United Nations.

Berbock said: “The choice of the Secretary-General has far-reaching consequences that reverberate far beyond the walls of this building. Our choice will set the tone for a unique international organization built on pluralism, and will demonstrate whether the United Nations truly represents the more than eight billion people we serve around the world, half of whom are women and girls.”.

She described the process of selecting the next Secretary-General as not only an administrative decision, but also a declaration of intent, stressing “It will send a strong message about the values ​​that the United Nations stands for, and about how it intends to meet the challenges of today’s interconnected world.”.

The President of the General Assembly went on to say: “In short, this is one of the most difficult jobs in the world; but it is also one of the most important, as the role of the next Secretary-General will not only be limited to shaping the future of this institution, but will extend – in his or her capacity as the strongest advocate for United Nations Charter – to also include shaping the future of the rules-based international order.”.

How interactive dialogues work

⬅️ During these three-hour dialogues, candidates will be invited to deliver an opening statement of no more than 10 minutes, followed by questions from UN Member States and civil society representatives, with the aim of exploring their leadership skills and experiences in more depth.

⬅️ This interactive dialogue exchange will be divided into two thematic axes: the first relates to the proven leadership capabilities, experiences, and skills possessed by the candidates to ensure the building of a strong and qualified organization to meet the challenges of the future; The second deals with the three pillars on which the United Nations is based (peace and security, development, and human rights).

⬅️ The way in which candidates answer the range of questions asked will constitute a decisive and pivotal moment in the course of the selection process.

⬅️ The four interactive dialogues will be broadcast live via United Nations Television web service.

⬅️ We’ll add videos of each candidate’s session below, arranged in the order of when they spoke.