Michelle Bachelet Withdraws From UN Secretary-General Race

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her candidacy to become the next United Nations secretary-general, ending her campaign after failing to secure sufficient support among members of the UN Security Council.

Bachelet, 74, announced her withdrawal in a video posted on Instagram on Saturday. The two-time Chilean president and former UN high commissioner for human rights said she intends to continue her international work despite stepping away from the race.

Her campaign had emphasized the defense of multilateralism and international law, principles Bachelet argued are facing increasing global pressure. She also sought to bring attention to the possibility of a woman from Latin America taking the UN's top leadership position.

The decision followed the third informal Security Council straw poll, which showed Bachelet's support had fallen sharply. She received only one "encourage" vote, alongside 11 "discourage" votes and three members expressing no opinion. Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan received nine encouraging votes in the same round.

Bachelet's departure leaves seven candidates competing to succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Guterres is scheduled to finish his second five-year term on December 31, 2026, although additional candidates could still join the selection process.

The race for the next UN secretary-general will ultimately be decided through a process involving both the Security Council and the General Assembly. The 15-member Security Council must recommend a candidate, who needs at least nine votes and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Once the Security Council agrees on a nominee, that candidate is presented to the 193-member UN General Assembly for formal appointment.

Bachelet's exit narrows the field as diplomatic negotiations intensify over who will lead the United Nations after Guterres' term ends.