Trials for new UN secretary-general begin in NY; Brazil supports Michelle Bachelet

UN: Questionnaires begin to choose the new secretary-general of the United Nations Candidates for the position of secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) began to be interviewed this Tuesday (21), in New York, in the United States, where the entity’s headquarters are located. Current secretary general, Portuguese António Guterres will leave command of the entity this year as he is in the last year of his second term. In total, four candidates are in the running: Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile; Rafael Grossi, Argentine diplomat and current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Rebeca Grynspan, former vice president of Costa Rica; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal. Since last year, Brazil has been advocating that, by consensus around rotation, a Latin American citizen be elected secretary general. Furthermore, the country supports that a woman be chosen. Brazil tried to articulate joint support from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) for this proposal. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, in Geneva, this Monday (9). Fabrice Coffrini/AFP In the 80 years since its founding, the UN has had nine secretaries-general, all men. On its official page, the organization itself states that “pressure is increasing” for a woman to take over as secretary general of the entity, but adds that “there are no guarantees”. In this scenario, in February the country formalized its support for the candidacy of Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and who previously served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and executive director of UN Women. In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Michelle Bachelet has “the ability to facilitate dialogue” and experience in dealing with “complex political processes”, in addition to being “committed to the fundamental values ​​of the United Nations”. “Michelle Bachelet’s candidacy represents an opportunity to provide the UN with leadership with proven experience, international legitimacy and a vocation for public service. We endorse this candidacy with the conviction that her leadership will contribute to the full fulfillment of the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations”, stated Itamaraty. Given this context, the ministry’s official profile on social media has replicated publications made by Michelle Bachelet regarding what she understands to be necessary at the head of the UN, if she is elected. Duties of the secretary According to the UN, the entity’s secretary general is responsible for: leading the UN secretariat and global operations; bring issues that threaten international peace to the Security Council; act as a mediator, advocate and public spokesperson in global crises; implement the decisions of Member States. Lula demands changes at the UN In speeches in Brazil and abroad, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) has repeatedly criticized the UN. The PT member has stated, for example, that the entity no longer has the strength it had after the end of the Second World War, adding that some of the countries that make up the Security Council are involved in conflicts, such as the United States and Russia. Lula has also said that the Security Council countries have become “warlords”, adding that there is currently “no institution” capable of pronouncing the word “peace” at a global level. “What we are seeing in the world is the total and absolute lack of functioning of the United Nations. The UN Security Council and its permanent members were created to try to maintain peace. And they are the ones who are waging wars”, stated the Brazilian president in March this year. Who is Michelle Bachelet Michelle Bachelet is a doctor, socialist and former president of Chile, having governed the country twice, between 2006 and 2010 and then between 2014 and 2018. Upon returning to office, she took office with the promise of making reforms in education, the tax system and reducing social inequalities. On the international scene, Bachelet gained prominence as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a position in which she criticized attacks on democratic institutions and took a stand in defense of electoral transparency in different countries, including Brazil.

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