Six candidates for next UN secretary-general present their cases in public debate

Thursday, July 23, 2026International AffairsWell-covered3 frames

How left and right are reading this

Both agree: The next secretary-general will inherit a UN whose credibility, authority, finances, and effectiveness are under strain, making this selection unusually consequential.
They split on: Whether the story is about rebuilding faith in multilateral leadership, or about choosing a chief who respects the UN's limits and restores institutional discipline.

Six official candidates for the next UN secretary-general took part in a public debate at UN headquarters in New York.
The candidates are Michelle Bachelet, María Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Macky Sall.
The event was held in a town-hall style format in the General Assembly chamber, with questions from moderators as well as diplomats, UN staff and civil society representatives.
The debate focused on how the candidates would respond to major challenges facing the UN, including Security Council paralysis, international conflicts and pressure on the organization's credibility and effectiveness.
The debate took place shortly before the formal selection process begins, marking a new phase in the race to replace António Guterres.
António Guterres is due to leave office at the end of 2026 after two terms, and the next secretary-general is expected to take office in 2027.
The selection is consequential because the next UN chief will inherit an organization whose relevance, authority and finances are being questioned amid ongoing conflicts and divisions among major powers.
There is no clear front-runner at this stage, leaving the outcome uncertain as member states and the Security Council begin weighing the candidates.

Six official candidates for the next UN secretary-general took part in a public debate at UN headquarters in New York.
The candidates are Michelle Bachelet, María Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Macky Sall.
The event was held in a town-hall style format in the General Assembly chamber, with questions from moderators as well as diplomats, UN staff and civil society representatives.
The debate focused on how the candidates would respond to major challenges facing the UN, including Security Council paralysis, international conflicts and pressure on the organization's credibility and effectiveness.
The debate took place shortly before the formal selection process begins, marking a new phase in the race to replace António Guterres.
António Guterres is due to leave office at the end of 2026 after two terms, and the next secretary-general is expected to take office in 2027.
The selection is consequential because the next UN chief will inherit an organization whose relevance, authority and finances are being questioned amid ongoing conflicts and divisions among major powers.
There is no clear front-runner at this stage, leaving the outcome uncertain as member states and the Security Council begin weighing the candidates.

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