UN leadership hopefuls stress need for peace and restoring confidence

Lead

Four contenders for the role of United Nations secretary-general presented their visions this week, underscoring the need for peace, reform, and a renewed sense of purpose at an organization facing deep skepticism about its relevance. The candidates — Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Argentina's Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, and Senegal's Macky Sall — fielded hours of questions from the 193-member General Assembly and civil society representatives in New York, in what observers described as a critical test of their ability to lead the world body through turbulent times.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the hearings varied in focus and tone across outlets. The Buenos Aires Times highlighted the candidates' emphasis on peace and the UN's need for new leadership, while France 24 underscored the pledge to "revitalise" the organization through reform. The Jerusalem Post framed the discussions around the UN's "loss of legitimacy," quoting Grossi's blunt assessment that "there are enormous, huge doubts about our institution." The South China Morning Post took a notably pessimistic angle, emphasizing the candidates' downbeat views on the UN's future and the strain on international law, as voiced by Bachelet. All four sources agreed on the core facts: four candidates, the hearings' format, and the stakes involved.

Key claims

• Four candidates are vying to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary-general from January 1, 2027, when his second five-year term ends, as reported by multiple outlets.
• Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, struck a somber tone, saying, "This election, or selection, process is so consequential, and this is because we are at a time when there are enormous, huge doubts about our institution," according to the Jerusalem Post and South China Morning Post.
• Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean president and UN human rights chief, offered a bleak assessment: "Our world and the order based on international law that sustains it is under strain as never before," as quoted by France 24 and the South China Morning Post.
• Rebeca Grynspan, head of UNCTAD, warned that trust in the UN "is waning and because time is running out to restore it," a sentiment echoed in reports from Buenos Aires Times, Jerusalem Post, and South China Morning Post.
• Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, proposed a "reinvented role" for the UN to "regain its place at the global table," and stressed the need for "rigorous management" and better coordination to "do better with less," per France 24 and Buenos Aires Times.
• All candidates acknowledged the interconnectedness of the UN's three pillars — peace, human rights, and development — as noted in Jerusalem Post and other reports.
• The General Assembly can only elect the secretary-general upon the recommendation of the Security Council, where the five permanent members hold veto power, a fact confirmed by Buenos Aires Times.

Perspectives

The candidates' statements reflect a shared concern about the UN's diminishing credibility, though their proposed solutions differ. Grossi emphasized the need for the secretary-general to visit global flashpoints and address the UN's loss of legitimacy directly. Bachelet stressed the importance of leadership skills and being "physically present in the field," a view also shared by Grossi. Grynspan called for courage to change the organization, arguing that "to defend the United Nations today is to have the courage to change it." Sall focused on internal efficiency and reform, suggesting a "reinvented role" for the UN in global affairs.

Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group, quoted by the Buenos Aires Times, noted that while much of the contenders' remarks were "formulaic," they did send "important messages," particularly on the UN's fragility and the need for reform. He also expressed skepticism about the transparency of the selection process, noting "a widespread suspicion that the US and other vetoes in the Security Council will select a winner in private and minimize the Assembly's role."

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, who presided over the hearings, stressed the significance of the role, saying, "The secretary-general is not only the head of the UN and the world's top diplomat — she or he also represents all 8 billion of us, defending the UN Charter and leading on peace, development, human rights." Her remarks were carried by the Jerusalem Post.

No clear frontrunner has emerged, leaving the race open for additional candidates before the final selection. The next secretary-general will inherit an organization facing financial strain, armed conflicts not seen since World War II, and persistent questions about its ability to act effectively on the global stage.