Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her candidacy for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, concluding her pursuit of becoming the first woman to lead the global organization.
Bachelet announced her decision on Saturday, affirming that she harbored no regrets about undertaking what she characterized as a significant responsibility. Her exit reduces the field of candidates to seven individuals vying to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose second term concludes on December 31, 2026.
Her withdrawal follows a tepid performance in the most recent Security Council straw poll, where she garnered one “encourage” vote, 11 “discourage” votes, and three “no opinion” responses.
The September 18 poll was topped by Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, who secured nine “encourage” votes, followed by Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with eight. Senegal’s Macky Sall, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu, and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi each received five votes.
Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa obtained three “encourage” votes, while Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki received none.
This poll is part of the Security Council’s informal selection process and does not directly determine the winner.
Bachelet’s campaign lost momentum after Chile’s newly formed government, led by President José Antonio Kast, withdrew its endorsement in March. She initially sought the role with support from Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.
The eventual successor will be chosen through a Security Council vetting process before formal appointment by the General Assembly.
No woman has served as UN Secretary-General since the organization’s establishment 80 years ago. Latin America has only one representative in this role: Peru’s Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who held the position from 1982 to 1991.
The General Assembly is scheduled to formally appoint the next UN Secretary-General in late 2026.
