Former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is a step closer to being officially invested as the next UN Secretary General after receving the official recommendation of the Security Council.
The cast list – how to follow what is happening
- The UN Security Council – 15 member deciding body which chooses its preferred candidate in a lengthy process behind closed doors
- The UN General Assembly – full 193-member UN body whose job it is to ratify the UNSC decision
- Antonio Guterres – 67-year-old former Portuguese prime minister and favoured UNSC candidate for the job
ADVERTISEMENTFormer Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres is a step closer to being officially invested as the next Secretary General of the United Nations.
The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution formally recommending him to the organisation’s 193-member General Assembly for election as the next leader of the world body.
Antonio Guterres: “I believe prevention must be not only a priority, but the priority of everything we do” https://t.co/mBmA5pS51x#NextSGpic.twitter.com/U7m2uhlk8Z
— UN Peacebuilding (@UNPeacebuilding) October 6, 2016
UNSC recommendation
Speaking before Thursday’s vote, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said he hoped the UN Security Council would unanimously recommend Guterres.
If fully approved, the 67-year-old will replace the south korean Ban Ki-moon, who will step down at the end of 2016 after two terms in office.
The process
The 15-member council, which has five permanent members, has been holding informal secret ballots since July in a bid to reach consensus on a candidate.
Members could choose between “encourage”, “discourage” or “no opinion”.
Guterres has come out on top of all polls.
In Wednesday’s poll, he received 13 “encourage” votes and two “no opinion”.
On Thursday, the Security Council adopted a resolution, again behind closed doors, recommending that the General Assembly appoint Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, 2017.
The resolution needed nine votes in favour and no vetoes to pass.
Breaking: UN Security Council united around choice for next Secretary-General—Antonio Guterres. pic.twitter.com/phMxjLb9OI
— Samantha Power (@AmbassadorPower) October 5, 2016
NEWS; Portugal's António Guterres emerges as favourite for next UN Secretary-General.
Next step: formal Security Council vote on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/MZ8vGvS1s5
— United Nations (@UN) October 5, 2016
The race to be Secretary General
13 people were nominated in the race to become the next UN Secretary General.
However, three had already withdrawn before Wednesday’s secret ballot.
For the first time, the candidates were allowed to make hustings-style speeches to the General Assembly in a bid to create more transparency in the opaque selection process.
Seven female candidates
The UN has had eight successive male leaders.
This time around, seven of the candidates for the position were women amid a push by a third of the 193 UN member states for the first female UN chief in the organisation’s 71-year history.
What they are saying
“Today, after our sixth straw poll, we have a clear favourite and his name is Antonio Guterres,” – Russia-UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
“In the end, there was just one candidate whose experience, vision and versatility across a range of areas proved compelling,” – US-UN Ambassador, Samantha Power.
“Although it is high time for a woman, the most important thing for the UK was the qualities of the leadership of this position,” – UK-UN Ambassador Matthew Rycroft.