2021 United Nations Secretary-General selection explained

Election Name:2021 United Nations Secretary-General selection
Nominee1:António Guterres
After Election:António Guterres
Before Election:António Guterres
Secretary General
1Data1: Portugal
1Blank:Country
2Blank:Result
2Data1:Acclaimed
Country:United Nations
Next Year:2026
Next Election:2026 United Nation Secretary-General election
Election Date:SC: 8 June 2021
GA: 18 June 2021
Previous Year:2016
Previous Election:2016 United Nations Secretary-General selection
Ongoing:no
Type:presidential

A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in June 2021 to choose the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Incumbent António Guterres was the only official candidate for the position. On June 8, 2021, Guterres was unanimously recommended by the United Nations Security Council (SC) for a second term at the helm of the organisation. His re-election was ratified by the United Nations General Assembly (GA) by acclamation on June 18, 2021, without a vote. Guterres commenced his second term on 1 January 2022.[1]

Background

See also: United Nations Secretary-General selection.

Article 97 of the United Nations Charter, states "The Secretary-General shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council". As a result, the selection is subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Security Council.[2] The Charter's minimal language has since been supplemented by other procedural rules and accepted practices.

Although different regions have held the office, no secretary from Eastern Europe has ever been selected Secretary-General. No woman has ever been selected either.[3] In 2016 there were various international campaigns to select an eastern European or a woman.[4] [5] [6] Despite this, the selection was won by the only candidate who was neither female nor from Eastern Europe. In 2021, some groups attempted to revive the campaign to elect a woman at the helm of the United Nations, but no female candidate was nominated by a member state to be considered by the Security Council.

Candidates

In order to be eligible for selection, a candidate must be nominated by at least one member state.[7] [8] On June 8, the day the Security Council convened to recommend a candidate to the General Assembly, there was only one official candidate in the selection process (incumbent Antonio Guterres), and seven additional self-declared applicant candidates.[9]

Official Candidates

The incumbent Secretary General António Guterres confirmed he would be seeking a second five-year term.[10]

Other notable declared candidate

Campaign

By May 2021, Incumbent Antonio Guterres had already secured the support of all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and of the Non-Aligned Movement, leading some observers to believe that his re-election was almost a certainty.[13]

Results

On June 8, 2021, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution recommending António Guterres for a second term at the helm of the United Nations. His re-election was ratified by the United Nations General Assembly by acclamation on June 18, 2021, without a vote.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Antonio Guterres Reelected as United Nations Secretary General. 2021-06-18. www.msn.com.
  2. Book: Chesterman, Simon. Secretary or General? The UN Secretary-General in World Politics. Cambridge University Press. 2007. Chesterman. Simon. Cambridge. 7. Introduction.
  3. Web site: UN Secretary-General. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171119044945/http://www.unelections.org/?q=node%2F71. 19 November 2017. 17 November 2014. UNElections.org. dmy-all.
  4. Web site: The next UN secretary-general: 7 women to consider. Devex. Ravelo. Jenny Lei. 5 January 2016.
  5. Web site: Time for a Woman: United Nations—it's been over 70 years, elect a female Secretary-General. 15 October 2016. Equality Now. 21 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161021090740/http://action.equalitynow.org/o/6208/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=20135. dead.
  6. Web site: Jordan. Chuck. 26 August 2016. The next UN Secretary General should be from Eastern Europe. 16 April 2021. The Hill. en.
  7. News: Meet the Canadian millennial running to lead the United Nations. CBC. 9 April 2021.
  8. Web site: Selection and Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. live. 2021-04-15. www.un.org. General Assembly of the United Nations. https://web.archive.org/web/20210208173456/https://www.un.org/pga/75/sg-selection/ . 8 February 2021 .
  9. Web site: 5 May 2021. Selection of next UN Secretary-General enters phase of vision statement hearing. live. 18 May 2021. www.xinhuanet.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505020916/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-05/05/c_139925437.htm . 5 May 2021 .
  10. Web site: 2021-01-11. Guterres to seek second five-year term as UN Secretary-General. 2021-03-01. UN News. en.
  11. Web site: Joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council, forwarding a communication received from the Permanent Mission of Portugal presenting Mr. António Guterres as a candidate for re-appointment to the position of Secretary-General. 26 February 2021. Lopes. Francisco Duarte. et al. live. United Nations. Permanent Mission of Portugal. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227104912/https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/02/PGAPSC-letter-SG-selection-processAntonio-Guterres-CV-Portugal.pdf . 27 February 2021 .
  12. Web site: Could Rosalia Arteaga become the first woman to lead the UN? . May 8, 2021. Von Hammerstein. Leonie. Deutsche Welle.
  13. Web site: 2021-05-07. Why the UN chief race might wrap sooner than expected. 2021-05-16. Devex.