20 September :The selection process for the next United Nations secretary-general has begun, with the term of current Secretary-General António Guterres set to end in December. The Security Council held its third round of informal voting last Friday to determine who could succeed him.
The confidential vote lasted more than an hour, but no candidate emerged with a clear lead. Eight candidates are currently in the race for the top UN post.
A candidate must secure at least nine votes in the 15-member Security Council to advance. The nominee must also avoid opposition from any of the five permanent members—the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France and Russia, which hold veto power.
However, deep differences among the five permanent members are expected to make this year’s selection process particularly challenging.
The United Nations is currently facing multiple crises around the world. Against this backdrop, several Security Council members are calling for the next secretary-general to be a woman, adding another dimension to the ongoing race for the UN’s top diplomatic post.