Translated with AI
On Tuesday, the President of the UN General Assembly and the President of the Security Council—the two main organs of the United Nations—officially launched the selection process for the post of Secretary-General by sending a letter to member states. As a reminder, the current UN chief's term expires at the end of 2026, according to the Organization's press service.
The letter's authors invite Member States to nominate their candidates for the post of Secretary-General. They note that the person occupying this important position must meet the highest standards of efficiency and competence, as well as demonstrate commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.
The candidate must possess leadership qualities and professional skills in the field of diplomacy, communications, knowledge of several languages and have extensive experience in the field of international relations.
The authors of the message also note with regret that the post of UN Secretary-General has never been held by a woman and call on member states to seriously consider nominating a woman as a candidate. "We also draw attention to the importance of the regional aspect in the selection of the Secretary-General," the letter states.
A candidate may be nominated by a country or group of countries, but each country has the right to nominate one person.
According to the procedure approved by the General Assembly, candidates are required to submit a concept statement upon nomination, which will be published on a dedicated United Nations website, as well as disclose their sources of funding. The President of the General Assembly will hold an interactive webcast dialogue with each candidate.
The process of directly electing a new Secretary-General will begin at the end of July. Currently, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi and UNCTAD President Rebecca Greenspan have publicly announced their intention to run. The term of current UN Secretary-General António Guterres ends on December 31, 2026.
The post of Secretary-General is elected by the UN Security Council and confirmed by the General Assembly for a five-year term, renewable. There is no term limit, but no leader has led the organization for more than 10 years. According to established practice, the Secretary-General is not elected from among the permanent members of the Security Council.
