Six candidates vying to succeed António Guterres as UN secretary-general faced a televised debate at the General Assembly on Thursday, a pivotal moment in the race to lead the world body. The 90-minute session, organised by General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock and moderated by Bloomberg, featured four women and two men seeking the post.
The selection combines interactive dialogues before the General Assembly with informal consultations inside the Security Council, whose 15 members — including five permanent, veto-wielding powers — must ultimately agree on a nominee. First straw polls in the Security Council are expected as soon as next week.
Guterres, who took office in January 2017, completes his second term on 31 December 2026. The new secretary-general, to be formally appointed by the General Assembly on the Security Council's recommendation, begins a five-year mandate on 1 January 2027. The process must conclude before year's end.