Save Humanity: Four Leaders Clash for UN's Future

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Four candidates are competing to succeed Antonio Guterres as the United Nations Secretary-General amid unprecedented global turmoil, conflicts, and a severe budget crisis for the organization.

Michelle Bachelet from Chile, Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and Macky Sall from Senegal will undergo three-hour questioning sessions by 193 member countries and NGOs on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This marks only the second instance of a public Q&A format at the UN, introduced in 2016 to increase transparency.

The ultimate decision rests with the five permanent Security Council members, who hold veto power over the selection process.

Mike Waltz, the U.S. representative to the UN based in New York, has emphasized that the next secretary-general must prioritize “American values and interests,” asserting that Washington would support the most suitable candidate, regardless of whether they are a Latin American woman as some nations have requested.

All four contenders promise to bolster trust within the deeply divided organization, which is grappling with a financial crisis largely due to the U.S. refusal to fulfill its financial commitments.

Here’s a look at each applicant:

Michelle Bachelet
A socialist from Chile who endured torture under Augusto Pinochet’s regime, Bachelet made history as Chile’s first female president in 2006.
She later served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights—a sensitive role that led to disagreements with some countries, notably China, over her reports on alleged human rights abuses of Uyghur populations.
At 74, she is confident that her extensive experience equips her to lead the UN through contemporary crises.
Supported by Mexico and Brazil, she lost backing from Chile after the election of far-right President Jose Antonio Kast.

Rafael Grossi
A seasoned diplomat, Grossi, 65, has been running the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since 2019. His leadership has placed him at the heart of tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear activities and Russia’s occupation of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Both the U.S. and Russia—each wielding vetoes on the Security Council—have scrutinized his management of these international conflicts.
Grossi advocates for the UN to “return to its founding promise—to save humanity from the scourge of war.”

Rebeca Grynspan
Less prominent than her competitors, Grynspan, a former vice president of Costa Rica, heads UNCTAD, the UN’s trade and development body.
She brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Moscow and Kyiv, facilitating grain exports amid the ongoing conflict following Russia’s invasion.
At 70, she highlights her personal history as the daughter of Jewish parents who survived the Holocaust and emigrated to Costa Rica.
She emphasizes her firm commitment to the UN Charter, viewing it as a vital reminder of the dangers of dehumanization and distrust.

Macky Sall
At 64, Sall is the only candidate not from Latin America, defying the regional convention that the UN Secretary-General should come from that region.
Former president of Senegal, he underscores the importance of linking peace and development, arguing that lasting peace depends on addressing poverty, inequality, exclusion, and climate risks.
Proposed by Burundi, the current chair of the African Union, Sall does not enjoy regional support—20 African nations oppose his candidacy—and he faces criticism within Senegal for using force against protests that resulted in multiple deaths between 2021 and 2024.