Meet four women, two men vying to lead UN after António Guterres
The United Nations is at a critical crossroads. Plagued by unprecedented global instability, escalating regional conflicts, and a crippling internal budget crisis, the world body is preparing to choose a new Secretary-General to succeed António Guterres.
Six candidates—four women and two men—have officially thrown their hats into the ring. While diplomatic convention suggests the next UN chief should come from Latin America and the Caribbean, the field remains wide open as global superpowers split on a consensus choice.
To secure the top job, a candidate must win at least nine votes from the 15-member UN Security Council without being vetoed by any of the “P5” permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.
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Here is a closer look at the contenders aiming to navigate the future of global diplomacy.
1. Rafael Grossi (Argentina)
Age: 65
Current Role: Director-General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
A veteran Argentine diplomat, Grossi has been at the center of high-stakes geopolitics since taking the helm at the UN nuclear watchdog in 2019. From navigating Iran’s nuclear program to inspecting the frontlines of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, Grossi is no stranger to crisis management. Unlike other contenders, he has refused to step down from his IAEA post to campaign, calling it a “dereliction of duty.” Analysts note his push for a more proactive, hands-on Secretary-General who isn’t afraid to shake up UN bureaucracy.
2. Michelle Bachelet (Chile)
Age: 74
Current Role: Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Former President of Chile
A prominent socialist leader who survived torture under the Augusto Pinochet regime, Bachelet became Chile’s first female president in 2006. She later served as the UN’s human rights chief—a role that drew both praise and intense pushback, particularly from Beijing after her critical report on China’s treatment of the Uyghur minority. While backed by regional heavyweights like Brazil and Mexico, her home country withdrew its support following the election of far-right President José Antonio Kast, and Washington remains cool toward her candidacy over her social stances.
3. Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica)
Age: 70
Current Role: Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Costa Rica’s former vice president has taken a leave of absence from UNCTAD to focus on her campaign. Grynspan earned major diplomatic credentials in 2022 by helping broker the delicate Black Sea Grain Initiative between Russia and Ukraine to secure global food supply lines. The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Grynspan brings a rich personal and developmental background to the table, arguing that the UN has grown overly risk-averse and needs bold reform.
4. Macky Sall (Senegal)
Age: 64
Current Role: Former President of Senegal
Macky Sall is the sole African candidate in the race. Nominated by Burundi (the current African Union chair), Sall recently secured the endorsement of his home country after initial friction. A vocal advocate for linking peace efforts directly with economic development, his candidacy breaks traditional regional rotation norms. However, his bid carries domestic baggage, as authorities in Senegal continue to scrutinize his administration’s heavy-handed response to political protests between 2021 and 2024.
5. María Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador)
Age: 61
Current Role: Former President of the UN General Assembly
A former Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Espinosa brings deep inside knowledge of UN machinery. Having previously served as President of the General Assembly, she advocates for an “early warning system” to detect and head off geopolitical conflict before it erupts. Supported by Antigua and Barbuda, Espinosa champions structural reforms to make the UN more effective, though she notably lacks the official backing of her own home government.
6. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Guyana)
Age: 52
Current Role: Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the UN
The youngest contender in the field, Rodrigues-Birkett is a former Foreign Minister of Guyana now serving as her nation’s ambassador in New York. She insists the UN must rebuild its global credibility, arguing that while peacekeeping dominates headlines, the organization’s critical work in economic development and human rights often goes overlooked.
With the Security Council preparing to deliberate behind closed doors, the choice will ultimately come down to which leader can balance the conflicting interests of the major global powers while restoring confidence in a strained international system.
