France expects the next United Nations (UN) secretary-general to reform and strengthen the organization, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, while Paris separately seeks to improve the body’s legitimacy and representation.
Barrot told the French Senate Wednesday that France would oppose major powers’ attempts to weaken or paralyze the UN. He described peace, development and human rights as the organization’s founding aims.
Barrot said multilateralism and cooperation among countries are essential to protecting people from risks such as war, artificial intelligence, climate change and pandemics. He cited a French initiative to limit veto use by permanent members of the UN Security Council, saying its aim is to protect civilians targeted in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip and Iran.
Candidates were still seeking sufficient backing for their bids, France 24 reported Oct. 23, in a contest covered in EconoTimes’ earlier reporting on the succession race. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter, the 15-member Security Council recommends a candidate and the General Assembly appoints the secretary-general. The Council needs at least nine votes to make a recommendation, and any permanent member — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States — can veto it.
A secret Security Council straw poll on Oct. 16 included seven candidates. The Associated Press reported that Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan received nine “encourage” votes and two “discourage” votes from permanent members; no candidate had backing from all five. UN records place the next secretary-general’s term start on Jan. 1, 2027, the day after Guterres’ term ends on Dec. 31, 2026.
