Six candidates vying to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations are set to participate in a televised debate on Thursday, just a week before the formal selection process begins for one of the world’s most influential diplomatic positions.
The 90-minute debate, scheduled to take place in the UN General Assembly Hall and broadcast by Bloomberg, will give candidates an opportunity to answer questions from diplomats, UN staff and representatives of civil society.
The contenders seeking to succeed outgoing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock described the event as a rare opportunity for the international community to assess the candidates’ leadership qualities and priorities.
“This UN town hall will provide a rare opportunity to engage with the ideas, priorities and leadership vision of the candidates for one of the world’s most important positions,” Baerbock said.
She stressed that the next UN chief would need to strengthen the organization at a time of increasing global divisions while defending the principles of the UN Charter, including peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.
The leadership contest comes as the United Nations faces mounting financial pressures and growing scrutiny over its effectiveness. The administration of US President Donald Trump has accused the organization of excessive spending and failing to deliver results, while calling for renewed emphasis on its core peace and security mandate. Many other member states, however, continue to advocate equal attention to human rights and development.
Analysts say the race has so far lacked the excitement of previous contests. Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group noted that the campaign has been noticeably more restrained than the 2016 selection process that eventually produced Guterres.
According to Gowan, candidates have been careful not to alienate the United States or other permanent members of the UN Security Council, whose veto powers could determine the outcome.
The six candidates have already undergone extensive questioning by representatives of the UN’s 193 member states, with many emphasizing institutional reforms and a more active role for the Secretary-General in global peace initiatives.
The selection process moves to a critical stage on July 30, when the 15-member UN Security Council is expected to hold its first confidential “straw poll” to gauge support for the candidates. Additional rounds of voting will continue until one candidate secures at least nine votes without being vetoed by any of the council’s five permanent members.
The successful nominee will then be recommended to the General Assembly for formal approval and will assume office on January 1, 2027.
While Argentina’s Rafael Grossi is widely regarded by some diplomats as an early frontrunner, observers say Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett also enjoy considerable backing, leaving the race open.
Speculation has also continued over possible late entrants, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whom the New York Post has reported is favored by President Trump for the role.
This year’s contest has also renewed calls for the United Nations to appoint its first female Secretary-General, while Latin American countries argue that the position should rotate to their region under the organization’s long-standing, though unofficial, geographic rotation practice.
