Michelle Bachelet Withdraws Candidate Bid for UN Secretary General

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has officially withdrawn her bid to become the next United Nations Secretary General. Her departure follows a significant drop in support during a recent UN Security Council straw poll, leaving seven active candidates in the running to succeed current Secretary General António Guterres when his term ends on December 31.

Bachelet, 74, confirmed her decision in a video published on Instagram on Saturday. In her statement, the two-time president of Chile and former UN human rights chief stated that she would continue her international work with her usual determination. Throughout her campaign, Bachelet focused on supporting international law and defending multilateralism amidst global challenges.

Security Council Straw Poll Results

The decision to step down came after the UN Security Council conducted its third informal straw poll on Friday. The results indicated that backing for Bachelet's campaign had largely eroded, while Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the leading candidate in the vote.

The UN Security Council is responsible for selecting and formally recommending a single nominee to the 193-member General Assembly for final election. Approval by the General Assembly is traditionally viewed as a formality once the Security Council achieves a consensus. Although seven candidates currently remain in the race, additional contenders may still enter the selection process before the final decision is made.