Ivonne A-Baki Enters Race to Be Next UN Chief
- On Tuesday, Tonga nominated Ivonne A-Baki, Ecuador's former trade minister, as a candidate to replace Antonio Guterres as United Nations Secretary-General, making her the eighth candidate in the race.
- The United Nations faces significant global divisions and budget challenges that require revitalizing leadership. Guterres completes his second five-year term on December 31, 2026, triggering the succession process.
- Tonga highlighted A-Baki's roles as ambassador to the United States, Qatar, and France. The nomination letter stated she has "led major international initiatives on sustainable development and dialog among cultures, bridging Latin America, the Arab world, Africa and Europe."
- The Security Council plans another informal 'straw poll' on Friday to gauge support among members. A successful nominee must secure nine votes from the 15 available and avoid veto by the five permanent powers.
- Precedent suggests multiple polling rounds could continue through the coming weeks, concluding in late September or early October. Once a candidate clears these bars, their name advances to the General Assembly for final confirmation.
16 Articles
16 Articles
(New York = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Yeon-sook = The number of candidates in the election to choose the next UN Secretary-General has increased to eight.
The Ecuadorian diplomat is part of the group of three men and five women in the dispute for the post of UN leader. The Security Council made an "informal vote" on the successor of Guterres.
Another Latin American diplomat will compete for the UN General Secretariat. Know who the other candidates are and how the vote is progressing.
Baki's candidacy, presented by the Tongan government, is the eighth to replace António Guterres at the head of the UN General Secretariat.
Ivonne Baki Joins Race for UN Secretary-General: Navigating a Crucial Transition
Ecuadorean diplomat Ivonne Baki is the eighth candidate in the race for United Nations Secretary-General, following the decision of Antonio Guterres to step down at year-end. Nominated by Tonga, Baki brings diplomatic experience to a challenging role at a time when the UN faces calls for reform and reduced bureaucracy.
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