Former Chilean President withdraws candidacy for UN Secretary-General

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced on Saturday that she is withdrawing her candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, weeks after finishing second to last among eight candidates in an unofficial poll.

In a video posted on her social media accounts, Bachelet, the first woman to serve as President of Chile, stated, “I am announcing today my decision not to proceed with my candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.”

She added, “Some may believe that the timing was not right for a candidacy representing the vision I sought to put forward. I have no regrets about taking on this great challenge.”

Bachelet emphasized that her bid for this high-level UN post helped spark debate about the need for the next Secretary-General to be a woman from Latin America.

So far, in three rounds of voting within the unofficial process to select a new UN Secretary-General, the 15-member Security Council has placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Greinspan in the lead twice.

The administration of former Chilean President Gabriel Boric nominated Bachelet last February, where she received support from left-wing leaders in both Mexico and Brazil.

However, the candidacy of the 74-year-old left-wing politician lost momentum after Chile’s new President, José Antonio Kast, a far-right figure, withdrew his support for her.

Earlier this month, during a university event, Bachelet expressed that her chances of leading the international organization were slim.

No woman has ever headed the United Nations since its founding eight decades ago, and only one person from Latin America has held the post of Secretary-General: Peruvian Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who served from 1982 to 1991.

According to an unwritten convention, which is not always adhered to, this high-level position rotates among geographic regions, and it was expected to go to Latin America this time.

With Bachelet’s withdrawal, four women and three men remain in the race to succeed Portuguese António Guterres, who will conclude his second five-year term on December 31 next year.