Michelle Bachelet Enters Race to Succeed Guterres as UN Secretary-General

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria addresses the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit, Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet formally entered the race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations this week, with the backing of Chile, Brazil, and Mexico, as the organization prepares for a leadership transition at the end of Antonio Guterres’ term in December 2026. Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced on Feb. 2 that his government had submitted the required documentation to the president of the UN General Assembly, officially nominating Bachelet for the post. Boric said the candidacy reflects a regional effort to elevate Latin America and the Caribbean’s role in global decision-making and multilateral governance. “Former President Michelle Bachelet faithfully embodies the values of the United Nations”, Boric said in a statement, adding that the nomination expresses a shared regional commitment to democracy, human rights, and international cooperation.

Bachelet, 74, served two nonconsecutive terms as Chile’s president from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018, becoming the country’s first female head of state. Following her presidency, she held senior positions within the UN system, including Executive Director of UN Women and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022.

Speaking at the announcement in Santiago, Bachelet said she was “deeply honored” to accept the nomination and described the bid as a joint effort supported by Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. She said the candidacy carries “a tremendous responsibility” amid growing global challenges.

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a press conference at the Cultural Center of Spain, in Mexico City, Tuesday, April 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Bachelet is the second candidate to formally declare her interest in the position and the only woman to do so thus far. She joins Argentine diplomat Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who has been nominated by President Javier Milei. Other potential contenders from the region include Rebeca Grynspan, head of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and several other Latin American leaders who have been mentioned in diplomatic discussions.

The race unfolds as the United Nations faces mounting institutional strain. Guterres recently warned member states of a looming financial crisis, citing unpaid dues, including more than $2 billion owed by the United States, that could force operational shutdowns if not resolved by midyear.

Under UN General Assembly rules, member states may nominate only one candidate individually or jointly, a provision that has effectively consolidated Mexico’s and Brazil’s support behind Bachelet. Chilean officials said she is expected to begin campaigning immediately, with expenses covered through public funding. If selected, Bachelet would become the first woman to lead the United Nations and only the second Latin American to hold the post, following Peruvian diplomat Javier Perez de Cuellar, who served from 1982 to 1991.