Six candidates seeking to succeed UN Secretary-General António Guterres used a televised debate to call for institutional reform, setting out competing visions for how the United Nations should respond to global crises, restore trust in multilateral diplomacy and adapt to a more divided international order.
The six candidates vying to lead the United Nations debated for 90 minutes Thursday in the General Assembly Hall in New York, all agreeing the organisation needs major reform but differing sharply on whether its next secretary-general should prioritise moral authority, active diplomacy or institutional management.
IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina argued that any member state that triggers war or uses aggression is serious enough for the secretary-general to step in, saying the UN must restore its credibility as a valid interlocutor.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan said she wanted nobody to ask where the UN is five years from now.
Senegal’s Macky Sall vowed to use his first 100 days to restore trust and put the UN on a path to become more agile and effective.
Chile’s Michelle Bachelet said she would refuse to give in to pressure from powerful donor countries.
Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett pledged to take on the UN’s toughest challenges including Iran, Haiti and Sudan. Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa identified financial constraints as the organisation’s greatest challenge.
International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan said the race lacks the intensity seen in 2016. Formal Security Council consultations begin next week.
