Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced on Saturday that she is withdrawing her candidacy for the position of UN Secretary-General. Bachelet, who was the first woman to serve as President of Chile, had been considered a strong contender for the top UN post. Her decision comes after weeks of low poll numbers, with Bachelet finishing second to last in an informal survey of UN Security Council members.
In a video statement, Bachelet said she had decided not to move forward with her candidacy, but expressed no regrets about taking on the challenge. She noted that her campaign had helped raise awareness about the need for a female Secretary-General from Latin America. Bachelet's withdrawal leaves four women and three men in the running for the position, which will be decided through a series of informal votes by the UN Security Council.
Bachelet's candidacy had received support from leftist leaders in Mexico and Brazil, but her chances were hurt when new Chilean President José Antonio Kast, a right-wing extremist, withdrew his support. The Chilean government had initially nominated Bachelet for the position in February, but later withdrew its support in March.
The UN Secretary-General position has traditionally been held by a representative from a different geographic region every five years. With Bachelet's withdrawal, the position is now expected to be filled by a representative from Eastern Europe, given that the current Secretary-General, António Guterres, is from Portugal and his term ends in December.
Bachelet's decision to withdraw from the race is seen as a setback for her ambitions, but she has expressed no regrets about her decision. She noted that her campaign had helped raise awareness about the need for greater representation of women and Latin Americans in top UN positions.
The UN Security Council has conducted three informal surveys to gauge support for the various candidates, with Rebecca Greenspan, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Costa Rica, currently leading the pack. However, the final decision on who will succeed Guterres will be made through a formal vote by the UN General Assembly.
Bachelet's withdrawal from the race has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporters expressing disappointment and others praising her for her courage in taking on the challenge. Her decision is seen as a significant development in the race for the UN's top post, and has raised questions about the prospects of other female candidates.
Key points
- Bachelet's withdrawal from the UN Secretary-General race leaves four women and three men in the running for the position.
- The Chilean government's decision to withdraw its support for Bachelet in March was seen as a significant blow to her candidacy.
- The UN Secretary-General position has traditionally been held by a representative from a different geographic region every five years.
