Maldives has withdrawn its surprise nomination of Virginia Gamba for secretary-general, and Chile has backed out of its nomination of Michelle Bachelet, leaving only one woman, Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis, on the ballot amid calls for female leadership in the 80-year-old organization. The field of candidates has now narrowed from five to three, with the remaining two being men. Maldives decided to drop Gamba’s nomination, who previously held significant roles at the UN, without providing a specific reason for the withdrawal.
With Maldives retracting Gamba’s nomination, she is no longer in the running, as confirmed by Collins. Meanwhile, another Argentinian candidate, Rafael Grossi, supported by his country, is competing for the position. Despite Chile withdrawing Bachelet’s nomination, she will remain on the ballot due to the continued support from Brazil and Mexico. Bachelet, a former president of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has faced opposition, including from some US officials, citing concerns over her criticisms of human rights in certain countries.
The third candidate, Macky Sall of Senegal, nominated by Burundi, completes the current lineup. The pressure to elect a female successor to Antonio Guterres gives Grynspan of Costa Rica an advantage unless a strong female contender emerges. The election process emphasizes gender equality in candidate selection, with a focus on fair representation. The candidates will undergo interactive sessions starting April 20 to present their candidacy and engage with diplomats and civil society representatives.
