In groups of five, ten of the 12 candidate for UN secretary-general took part in public debates on July 12, 2016.

In groups of five, ten of the 12 candidate for UN secretary-general took part in public debates on July 12, 2016.
Photo Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters

UN choosing new secretary-general is more transparent

The United Nations must find a new secretary-general and it has made the process much more open with events such as a public debate between candidates held last night.

‘Historically…a very, very opaque process’

“Historically, secretaries-general at the UN have been chosen in a very, very opaque process,” says Stephen Toope, a long-time UN watcher and professor at the University of Toronto. “Essentially the Security Council, which effectively meant the five permanent members, would meet behind closed doors. They’d stitch up a deal and then they’d announce the secretary-general and ask the General Assembly to ratify.”

Current secretary-general Ban Ki-moon steps down in 2017 having tackled the difficult issues of climate change, regional wars and a massive refugee crisis.
Current secretary-general Ban Ki-moon steps down in 2017 having tackled the difficult issues of climate change, regional wars and a massive refugee crisis. © Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

‘This isn’t good enough’

“I think this time round, various states in the General Assembly and indeed, the person who’s serving as president who’s a Danish diplomat were saying ‘this isn’t good enough.’ And people around the world also wanted to know who the candidates might be. So there was pressure for the General Assembly to the Security Council to change the process and they agreed to do that.”

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While there will be opportunities for the public to learn more about the candidates the process for choosing the new secretary-general will not technically change. However, Toope is hopeful the increased transparency will make a difference.

Former secretary-general Kofi Annan was considered to be a more effective leader at the UN.
Former secretary-general Kofi Annan was considered to be a more effective leader at the UN. © GI/Spencer Platt/Getty Images

‘One of the greatest bully pulpits on earth’

“What I’m quite optimistic about is that with the public nature of what’s happened so far, it’s going to be harder for the Security Council either to name someone who’s not been on the list or to name someone who’s not performed well in this public process.”

And how important is the role of the secretary-general? “The person doesn’t have a lot of real power but there’s no doubt that being secretary-general is one of the greatest bully pulpits on earth, says Toope.

Little official power, but power to influence

“So, if you’ve got someone who’s inspiring and is a great communicator and obviously a good diplomat, there’s a possibility of really influencing world events by convincing people that particular issues are important, by rallying various countries to a cause, by dealing behind the scenes with political leaders and pressuring them quite frankly using authority, not power to move in a certain direction. So, I think it matters who the secretary-general is.”

Wanted: competence and inspiration

Outgoing secretary-general Ban Ki-moon faced many challenges including regional wars, climate change and the worst refugee crisis since World War II. Toope thinks history will remember him as “rather ineffective secretary-general, not particularly inspiring, not a great communicator” who did not manage to make something of the job.

In choosing a new person to fill the roll, there is pressure to name a woman and, because the position usually rotates, pressure to name someone from Eastern Europe. Above all, Toope hopes the increased transparency means there will be overwhelming pressure to name someone who is competent and inspiring.

Half the candidates are women. They include UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova of Bulgaria; former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who heads the UN’s development program; Christiana Figueres of Costa Rica.

Among leading male candidates is former UN high commissioner for refugees Antonio Guterres, who is also a former Portuguese prime minister.

Categories: International, Politics
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