Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has officially withdrawn her candidacy for the United Nations Secretary-General election, according to a video message released on her Instagram account on Saturday. Bachelet, who governed Chile from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018, stated that she decided not to continue with the race following recent informal UN votes that placed her near the bottom of the field.
Bachelet Withdraws UN Bid After Informal Votes
The announcement follows a series of non-binding straw polls conducted among the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council. According to reporting by EFE, Bachelet slipped to the penultimate (seventh) position among eight candidates in the latest informal ballot held on Friday. Her standing in the advisory polls had steadily declined after starting in fourth place during the July rounds. Despite the downward trend, Bachelet expressed gratitude to her remaining international backers, specifically thanking Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for supporting her campaign from the outset with “generosity and conviction,” as reported by EFE.
Shifting Political Support and Campaign Challenges
Bachelet’s path to the UN leadership faced significant domestic headwinds earlier in the race. As noted by EFE, the current government of Chilean President José Antonio Kast officially withdrew its sponsorship of her candidacy in March, asserting that her chances of securing the post were very low. During her global campaign, Bachelet traveled to various regions to meet with members of the UN Security Council, though she was ultimately unable to schedule a meeting with United States President Donald Trump, according to EFE’s reporting.
Current Frontrunners in the UN Leadership Race
With Bachelet stepping aside, the field for the next UN chief features other prominent Latin American diplomats. In Friday’s informal and non-binding vote, Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan secured the most votes among the candidates, followed by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, according to details published by EFE.
Bachelet’s Defense of Multilateralism and Women’s Leadership
In her withdrawal message, Bachelet defended the core themes of her platform, pointing to growing global skepticism toward international norms. “Some will believe that these were not the times for a candidacy like the one I wanted to represent, when winds blow strong against principles like multilateralism, against international law permanently transgressed, and against the existence of climate change that some deny despite scientific evidence,” Bachelet said, as quoted by EFE. The former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of UN Mujeres emphasized that she does not regret undertaking the challenge and noted that her campaign helped cement the idea that the next Secretary-General should be a woman from Latin America.
Did You Know?
Michelle Bachelet served two separate terms as the President of Chile and has held high-profile international posts, including leading UN Women and serving as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Michelle Bachelet withdraw her UN candidacy?
According to her video statement, Bachelet decided to halt her campaign after finishing in the penultimate position during the latest non-binding straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council.
Who were Bachelet’s main international supporters?
Bachelet publicly thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for backing her bid from day one.
Did the Chilean government support her campaign?
No. According to reports from EFE, the government of Chilean President José Antonio Kast withdrew its official sponsorship in March, citing low chances of success.
Who led the recent informal UN Security Council votes?
Costa Rican candidate Rebeca Grynspan received the most votes in the Friday informal ballot, followed by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana.
Worth a look