United Nations launches transparent, inclusive process to choose next secretary‑general
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Summary
A joint letter on Nov. 25, 2025, opened nominations for the 10th UN secretary‑general. Candidates must be nominated by member states, submit a vision, CV and financing disclosures, and take part in public webcast dialogues; two nominees have been named so far.
“Who becomes the next secretary general of the United Nations?” Unidentified Speaker 1 asked, opening an explainer of the process now underway to pick the world organization’s next top official.
The selection process, the speaker said, follows rules adopted by the General Assembly and is guided by Article 97 of the UN Charter. Organizers describe the updated procedures as aimed at making the contest “more transparent and more inclusive.”
The formal step that kicked off nominations was a joint letter from the president of the General Assembly and the president of the United Nations Security Council. That letter, issued Nov. 25, 2025, invited member states to nominate candidates to succeed the current secretary‑general.
Under the announced rules, no person may run alone: each candidate must be nominated by one or more UN member states. Nominees are required to submit a written vision statement, a curriculum vitae and campaign‑finance disclosures. According to the explainer, all of that material will be made public.
Candidates will also take part in live webcast interactive dialogues. As Unidentified Speaker 2 explained, each candidate will present their vision statement, answer questions from a member state and engage with civil society organizations during those sessions.
So far, two nominees have been publicly reported: Rafael Mariano Grossi and Michelle Bachelet. The explainer noted that more names could still be added before member states’ nomination windows close.
In the final phase, the UN Security Council will recommend a single candidate; the General Assembly then votes to appoint the next secretary‑general. The selection is notable for its global reach: one post, 193 member states, and what the explainer called “a decision that shapes global diplomacy for years to come.”
Next steps include the submission deadlines set by the joint letter and scheduled webcast dialogues; the Security Council recommendation and the General Assembly appointment will follow according to the UN’s established procedures.