Who Will Lead the United Nations Next? - 时代广场全球直播间

Who Will Lead the United Nations Next?
Four Candidates Present Vision as UN Secretary-General Selection Enters Critical Phase

By Winny Power
New York, United Nations Headquarters | April 21 2026

As the tenure of António Guterres approaches its conclusion at the end of 2026, the race to select the next Secretary-General of the United Nations has entered a decisive stage.

Beginning Tuesday, four officially nominated candidates will participate in a series of interactive dialogues at the United Nations General Assembly, presenting their visions for the future of the organization and responding to questions from Member States and civil society.

The next Secretary-General—who will assume office on January 1, 2027—will face mounting geopolitical tensions, financial constraints, and increasing challenges to international law and multilateralism. The role also carries the responsibility of advancing institutional reforms to ensure that the United Nations remains effective and relevant in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Four Candidates in Focus

The candidates participating in this round of dialogues include:

Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

Macky Sall, former President of Senegal

Each candidate brings a distinct combination of political leadership, multilateral experience, and global policy expertise to the process.

A Defining Moment for Multilateralism

The dialogues are convened under the leadership of Annalena Baerbock, President of the United Nations General Assembly, who emphasized the significance of this moment.

Speaking ahead of the opening session, she described the selection as taking place at a “critical juncture” for the United Nations.

“The choice of the next Secretary-General will resonate far beyond this building,” she noted. “It will determine the direction of this unique multilateral institution and demonstrate whether it truly represents the will of the more than eight billion people it serves—half of whom are women and girls.”

Baerbock further underscored that the decision is not merely administrative, but deeply symbolic:

“It is a declaration of intent—of what the United Nations stands for and how it will respond to the challenges of an interconnected world.”

She described the role as:

“One of the most difficult jobs in the world—but also one of the most important—because the next Secretary-General will shape not only the future of this institution, but also the future of the rules-based international order as the principal guardian of the UN Charter.”

Inside the Interactive Dialogues

Each session will last approximately three hours and follow a structured format:

Opening statement (maximum 10 minutes) from each candidate
Interactive Q&A with UN Member States and civil society representatives

The discussions will focus on two core dimensions:

Leadership & Institutional Capacity
Whether candidates possess the vision, experience, and management capability to lead a future-ready United Nations
Substantive Priorities
Peace and Security
Sustainable Development
Human Rights

How candidates respond to these questions is expected to play a decisive role in shaping Member States’ positions during the selection process.

Global Access and Transparency

All four dialogues will be broadcast live via UN Web TV, reinforcing transparency and inclusivity in the selection process—an increasingly important feature of modern UN governance.

Why This Matters Now

At a time when the authority of international law is being tested and multilateral institutions face unprecedented strain, the selection of the next Secretary-General carries heightened global significance.

The outcome will not only define the leadership of the United Nations but also signal the direction of global cooperation in an era marked by fragmentation, conflict, and transformation.

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