United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has confirmed he will not seek a third term in office. His current second five-year term is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2026.
Guterres, a former Prime Minister of Portugal, first assumed the role of UN Secretary-General on January 1, 2017. He was re-elected for a second term in June 2021. The decision not to pursue another term aligns with historical precedent, as no Secretary-General has served more than two full terms since the organization's founding.
The announcement sets the stage for a succession process to select the world's top diplomat. The UN Security Council will be responsible for recommending a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for approval. The search for his successor is expected to begin in earnest later this year.
