Michelle Bachelet secured just one vote in favor, 11 against, and three “sin opinión” during the third informal UN Security Council straw poll on Friday, leaving her in seventh place among eight candidates running to succeed António Guterres as United Nations Secretary General.
Third UN Straw Poll Deepens Electoral Difficulties for Bachelet
The latest tally underscores a sharp downward trajectory for the former president’s campaign. According to UN figures, Bachelet started with six favorable votes, five opposing, and four “sin opinión” in late July. By August, her support dropped to two favorable votes while opposition climbed to six, culminating in Friday’s result of 11 unfavorable votes and only a single remaining supporter.
Did You Know? The informal straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council use confidential ballots, meaning individual country votes remain hidden until the final stages of the selection process.
Diplomatic Stance of Brazil and Mexico After the Count
Despite the adverse numbers, Brazil and Mexico continue to publicly back the bid. Following a second difficult round, Bachelet met with the governments of both nations to discuss her path forward. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly reaffirmed her government’s backing during Bachelet’s visit to Mexico following the August poll, noting that officials must carefully evaluate the candidate’s realistic prospects.
Friday’s outcome provides a fresh metric for that evaluation. With opposition votes nearly doubling since August and supportive votes dropping to one, the diplomatic calculations in Brasilia and Mexico City face mounting pressure.
Shifting Position of the Chilean Government
Domestically, the bid lacks backing from the current Chilean administration. President José Antonio Kast’s government decided in March against supporting the nomination, deeming the matter a closed issue for La Moneda. Following Friday’s announcement, Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Pérez reaffirmed the government’s stance, stating that the administration always viewed the bid as having low probability of success.
Bachelet herself acknowledged the steep climb weeks earlier. During an event hosted by Universidad Diego Portales, she remarked on her future prospects by stating, “Tal vez porque sé que no voy a ser Secretaria General.” Despite those remarks, the candidacy proceeded formally.
Upcoming New York Meetings and Security Council Veto Dynamics
The race remains officially open ahead of a scheduled round in late September. The upcoming UN General Assembly in New York will gather world leaders, offering a final diplomatic window for remaining supporters. However, the subsequent round will introduce differentiated ballots for the five permanent Security Council members—the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom—each of whom holds veto power.
Those specialized ballots will reveal whether any candidate faces a formal veto. For now, the latest results force Bachelet and her remaining state backers to weigh whether enough political margin exists to sustain the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the exact vote breakdown for Michelle Bachelet in the third straw poll?
Bachelet received one vote in favor, 11 against, and three “sin opinión”.
Which countries continue to publicly support her candidacy?
The governments of Brazil and Mexico maintain public support for her nomination.
Does the current Chilean government support her run for UN Secretary General?
No. The administration of President José Antonio Kast decided in March not to support the bid, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing it as a closed issue.
Do you think the remaining supporting governments will maintain their backing ahead of the September vote?
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