Six UN Secretary-General Candidates Debate Visions

Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations secretary-general presented their visions for the global body during a public debate on Thursday, July 23, 2026, one week before the formal selection process begins. The event, held in the General Assembly Hall in New York and broadcast online, featured former presidents and senior diplomats from Latin America and Africa seeking to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026.

The candidates are Michelle Bachelet of Chile, María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, and Macky Sall of Senegal. During the 90-minute session, they fielded questions from diplomats, UN staff, and civil society representatives, each outlining their qualifications to lead an organization described as facing a profound financial and confidence crisis.

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said the town hall provided a rare opportunity to engage with the candidates' ideas for one of the world's most important positions. She stated that in an increasingly fragmented world, the UN needs a leader who can modernize the institution and...