The contest to succeed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres enters a decisive phase on Thursday as six candidates participate in a televised debate ahead of the formal selection process for the organisation's next leader.
The debate, scheduled to take place in the General Assembly Hall at the UN headquarters in New York, comes just days before members of the Security Council begin voting to narrow the field in the race for one of the world's most influential diplomatic positions.
Seeking the post are former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister María Fernanda Espinosa, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi of Argentina, former UN official Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Guyana's former Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
The candidates will answer questions from diplomats, United Nations employees and civil society representatives during the 90-minute event, which will be broadcast live.
President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, said the debate offers an opportunity for the contenders to present their ideas for leading the organisation at a time when multilateral institutions are facing unprecedented challenges.
According to her, the next Secretary-General must possess the leadership, integrity and vision required to defend the principles of the UN Charter while steering reforms that will make the organisation more responsive to emerging global realities.
The election comes as the United Nations confronts mounting financial pressures and growing criticism over its effectiveness.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that the organisation has become inefficient, spending beyond its means and extending its activities beyond its core responsibilities.
Washington has advocated a renewed focus on international peace and security, while many other member states continue to insist that the UN must equally prioritise development and the protection of human rights.
Analysts say the current contest has been notably less dramatic than the 2016 race that eventually produced Guterres as Secretary-General.
Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group observed that many candidates have been careful not to alienate influential countries capable of determining the outcome of the race.
He noted that while the election is widely regarded as one of the most consequential in the organisation's recent history, the campaigns have so far remained relatively subdued.
The candidates have already participated in separate interactive dialogues with representatives of the UN's 193 member states, where they outlined proposals on institutional reform, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the organisation's role in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
Attention will now shift to the Security Council, which is expected to hold its first informal "straw poll" on July 30.
During the secret ballot, the Council's 15 members will indicate their preferred candidates. The process will continue through successive rounds until a single candidate secures the required support without facing a veto from any of the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The successful nominee will then be recommended to the General Assembly for formal appointment and will assume office on January 1, 2027.
Although diplomats identify Argentina's Rafael Grossi as one of the leading contenders, they say no candidate has established a commanding lead.
Rebeca Grynspan and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett are also regarded as strong contenders, while observers believe the possibility of a consensus "dark horse" candidate emerging cannot be ruled out.
The race has also revived calls for the United Nations to appoint its first female Secretary-General. At the same time, many member states argue that Latin America should produce the next UN chief under the informal principle of regional rotation, although that practice has not always been strictly observed.
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