Archive · 26 Nov 2025
UN Process Begins for Next Secretary-General
The United Nations is starting the process to choose its next leader, called the secretary-general.
This person will start their job on January 1, 2027.
Countries that are part of the U.N. can suggest people for the job.
The Security Council, which has 15 members including five powerful countries with veto power, will vote in secret until they agree on one candidate.
Then, the General Assembly, which has 193 members, will approve the choice.
The job is important because the secretary-general is like the boss of the U.N., overseeing thousands of staff and peacekeeping operations.
The U.N. has never had a female secretary-general, and there is a push to change that this time.
The U.N. has started the process to elect a new secretary-general for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2027.
Candidates must be nominated by a U.N. member state, with the Security Council and General Assembly overseeing the selection.
Publicly declared candidates include Michelle Bachelet from Chile, Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, and Rafael Grossi from Argentina.
The Security Council will hold secret straw polls until a consensus is reached, requiring agreement from the five permanent veto-wielding members.
The General Assembly's approval is seen as a formality, with the U.N. working to improve transparency in the selection process.
- Who
- The next U.N. secretary-general will be chosen by the Security Council and General Assembly
- What
- The process to elect the next U.N. secretary-general has begun
- When
- The term starts on January 1, 2027
- Where
- The election process takes place at the United Nations headquarters
- Why
- To replace the current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, whose term ends in 2027
- Term Start Date
- January 1, 2027
- Current Secretary-General
- Antonio Guterres
- Nomination Requirement
- Must be nominated by a U.N. member state
- Selection Process
- Security Council straw polls followed by General Assembly approval
- Veto Powers
- United States, Russia, Britain, China, France