Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general, according to multiple reports. Her decision followed an informal poll by the UN Security Council in which she received limited support from member states.
Bachelet, 74, had been seeking to become the first woman to lead the world body in its 80-year history. She served as Chile's president twice and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022.
The race to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026, continues with other candidates still in contention. The Security Council is expected to hold further informal polls in the coming weeks to narrow the field.
The selection process requires the Security Council to recommend a candidate to the General Assembly, where a formal appointment vote would take place. The next secretary-general will take office on January 1, 2027.
