The United States and Russia have accused Annalena Baerbock, president of the UN General Assembly, of overstepping her authority in the process to select the next UN secretary-general, intruding on prerogatives reserved for the Security Council.
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia expressed concern over the role Baerbock was assigning herself, while US diplomat Jennifer Locetta condemned her conduct as irresponsible and an abuse of power, singling out an opinion poll Baerbock commissioned last month as unfair and unprecedented. The United States also accused Baerbock of hypocrisy.
Baerbock, who holds the one-year presidency until early September, has pushed for a transparent and inclusive process to succeed António Guterres, who steps down at year's end. Eight candidates are in the running, with Rebeca Grynspan leading the Security Council's first informal ballot. The council retains the decisive recommendation power.