Candidates vying to lead the United Nations pledged on Wednesday to pursue sweeping reforms aimed at rebuilding trust in the organisation and strengthening its role in international affairs, according to reporting by France 24.
Four contenders seeking to succeed Secretary-General António Guterres next year made their commitments during hearings with member states and civil society representatives, reaffirming their belief in the UN's core mandate of peacemaking and development.
A moment of pressure for the UN
The pledges come at a period of heightened scrutiny for the United Nations, which faces mounting criticism over its ability to respond effectively to ongoing conflicts, humanitarian crises, and geopolitical rivalries among major powers. The selection process for a new secretary-general is drawing significant attention from governments and advocacy groups watching for signals about the organisation's future direction.
Each candidate stressed the need to restore confidence in multilateral institutions at a time when unilateral action by major states has increasingly sidelined the UN in key global disputes.
What the candidates are proposing
While specific policy details varied among the contenders, the candidates broadly aligned on the need for structural and procedural changes within the organisation. Themes raised during the hearings included improving accountability, enhancing the UN's responsiveness to crises, and ensuring more equitable representation across the body's many agencies and committees.
Civil society groups participating in the hearings pressed candidates on how they would address longstanding concerns about transparency and the influence of powerful member states on UN decision-making.
The succession process
Guterres, who has served as secretary-general since 2017, is set to conclude his second term. The selection of his successor involves consultations among the UN's 193 member states, with the Security Council playing a central role in recommending a candidate to the General Assembly for approval.
The involvement of the five permanent Security Council members - the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom - each of whom holds veto power, means the selection process is often shaped as much by geopolitical considerations as by the candidates' stated platforms.
The outcome of the race is expected to have significant implications for how the UN approaches conflicts and multilateral negotiations in the years ahead.
