Khaberni - Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced that his country has officially chosen former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet as a candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General, with support from Brazil and Mexico.
Boric explained during the conference held at the presidential palace in Santiago that the nomination has already been registered with the United Nations, and will be submitted jointly with the "two sister states".
Bachelet: A Rich Medical and Political Career
Bachelet (74 years old) is a pediatrician and the only woman to have served as the President of Chile for two terms (2006–2010 and 2014–2018).
She has also held high international positions, including the Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and then the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights between 2018 and 2022.
Bachelet expressed her pride in this nomination, saying: "I thank everyone who supports this nomination and I take on the great responsibility it entails".
A Historic Opportunity for Latin America and Women
This move comes as the term of Portuguese Antonio Guterres approaches its end on December 31, 2026.
For 80 years, no woman has held this position, nor has anyone from Latin America except for the Peruvian diplomat Javier Perez de Cuellar.
According to international custom, it is presumed that this time the turn should be for Latin America, with a strong possibility of choosing a woman.
Competitors for the Highest Position
Bachelet faces competition from prominent names in the region, among them:
Rebeca Grynspan: Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Costa Rica).
Alicia Barcena: Minister of Environment in Mexico.
Mia Mottley: Prime Minister of Barbados.
Rafael Grossi: Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Argentina).
