Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Four candidates for the next United Nations Secretary-General are participating in televised interactive dialogues at UN Headquarters in New York. These sessions give each candidate the opportunity to present their vision for the UN and respond to questions from Member States and civil society representatives, focusing on leadership experience, UN reform, and the organization's core pillars: peace and security, development, and human rights.
The candidates are Michelle Bachelet, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Chile; Rafael Grossi, current head of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, current head of the UN trade and development agency; and Macky Sall, former President of Senegal. António Guterres, the current Secretary-General, will step down after his two-term tenure ends in 2026.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock organized the dialogues, describing the selection process as a critical step that will influence the direction of the global multilateral organization. She noted that the decision sends a significant message about what the UN stands for and how it plans to address current global challenges.
According to Baerbock, the role of Secretary-General is among the toughest and most vital worldwide, as the selected individual will shape the future of the UN and serve as a leading defender of its Charter.