SANTIAGO DE CHILE.- The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, announced this Monday the officialization of the candidacy of the two-time former president of her country, Michelle Bacheletto the General Secretariat of the United Nations (UN), a nomination supported by Mexico and Brazil that competes directly with the Argentine candidate supported by the Casa Rosada, Rafael Grossi.
Accompanied by Bachelet herself and by the ambassadors of Mexico and Brazil, Laura Moreno and Paulo Pacheco, the Chilean president pointed out from La Moneda, headquarters of the Chilean government, that “in this nomination, as you can see, we are not alone”.
“The candidacy of former President Bachelet, which has already been registered, will be presented jointly with the sister countries of Brazil and Mexicothe most populated in Latin America,” said Boric, who on March 11 will transfer power to the president-elect, the conservative José Antonio Kast.
In addition to thanking “the support, conviction, courage” of the presidents of Brazil, Lula da Silva, and from Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumspecified that this support represents “the common will to contribute to global governance and the strengthening multilateralism“.
“Expresses a shared hope that Latin America and the Caribbean make their voices heard in the construction of collective solutions to the tremendous challenges of our time,” added the leftist president. Furthermore, he emphasized his “unrestricted commitment to an international order based on peace, cooperation between peoples from the deep conviction that A more just, more humane, kinder and happier world is not only possible, but necessary“.
The president highlighted Bachelet’s “impeccable and widely valued career in the world”: “twice head of state in Chile, the first woman, by the way, a woman who opens paths as Minister of Health and Defense, as the first executive director of UN Women and as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
For his part, Lula Da Silva expressed his support for the candidacy, highlighting “his experience, leadership and commitment to multilateralism.” Through a publication on the social network X said: “After eight decades of history, “It’s time for the organization to finally be led by a woman.”.
Meanwhile, Bachelet said she felt “very honored” to be the candidate of three countries and stated that it “reflects a shared commitment and renews hope that we can work together for common goals.”
In that sense, he pointed out that “it is a sign” of the importance of the UN for Latin America and that despite the difficulties and a challenging geopolitical context, it continues to support multilateralism. “United Nations must be renewed to remain legitimate, more modern, efficient, transparent and results-oriented,” he stated.
Bachelet’s candidacy has sparked an internal political debate over the criticism from the right and there are still doubts about whether José Antonio Kast will support the nomination.
The elected president met with the former president last December, after winning the second round elections, where he announced that He will announce his decision after taking office in March.
The Minister of the Interior, Álvaro Elizalde, sent a message to Kast asking that “Everyone wear the Chile shirt” in the race for the General Secretary.
“We want to insist that this candidacy is an opportunity for Chile, and therefore, we hope that Everyone wear the Chile shirt so that we can have a compatriot heading the United Nations, “We all know the relevance that this institution has within the framework of multilateralism and in the international arena, it is the most relevant,” he said.
Asked by journalists about Boric’s announcement at an event for the second anniversary of the megafire in the Valparaíso region, Kast again expressed ambiguity: “The only thing I can say is that Chile is experiencing an emergency (…) You have to see where you prioritize.”
“As long as I am not President in office, I am not going to speak out on any other issue,” he stressed.
Bachelet, 73 years old and a pediatrician by profession, is the only woman to become president in Chile (2006-2010 and 2014-2018). Subsequently, she was appointed executive director of UN Women (2010-2013) and then UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018-2022).
In 80 years, No woman has held the top position at the UN and there is barely one representative from Latin America in that role, the Peruvian diplomat Javier Pérez de Cuéllar between 1982 and 1991. According to an unregulated practice that is not always followed, the general secretary rotates between regions.
This time, by an unwritten or obligatory rule, It would be Latin America’s turn and there is growing pressure for a woman be elected for the first time.
However, the Argentine Rafael Grossidirector of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is also garnering support for the vote that will take place this year.
Grossi was supported by the president’s government Javier Mileyand also received the support of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloniand the Paraguayan president, Santiago Pena.
While geopolitical tensions are growing in the world and global governance is being discussed, during his presentation at the International Economic Forum Latin America and the Caribbean last week, Grossi gave a defense of multilateral organizations and their role in “generating opportunities.”
The candidate anticipated that, if elected, he intends to carry out profound changes in the most important multilateral organization in the world that is going through a period of crisis and lack of legitimacy.
Bachelet is one of the candidates to replace the Portuguese Antonio Guterreswho Its second term ends on December 31, 2026.
The Costa Rican is also competing for the position Rebecca GrynspanSecretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development; Alicia BarcenaSecretary of the Environment of Mexico; and Mia MottleyPrime Minister of Barbados.
ANSA, AFP and Emol Agencies (GDA)
