The six candidates for United Nations secretary-general will debate Thursday in the symbolic General Assembly Hall, one week before the formal start of a selection process crucial to an organization in deep crisis.
With the campaign lacking a clear favorite and struggling to generate real enthusiasm, the hopefuls will face 90 minutes of questions from diplomats, UN employees and civil society representatives at an event starting at 5:00 pm (21:00 GMT) and broadcast by Bloomberg.
Former Senegalese president Macky Sall, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan and Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett are all in the running to succeed outgoing Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
"This UN town hall will ... provide a rare opportunity to engage with the ideas, priorities and leadership vision of the candidates for one of the world's most important positions," General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said.
‘Leadership and integrity’
"In an increasingly fragmented world, the United Nations needs not only an exceptional chief administrator who will make the organization fit for the 21st century but also the leadership and integrity of someone willing to vigorously defend the UN Charter and all its three pillars," she added.
The United Nations is facing a profound financial and confidence crisis, with US President Donald Trump's administration accusing it of spending recklessly, spreading itself too thin and failing to deliver satisfactory results.
The candidates have already faced three hours of questioning each from representatives of the 193 UN member states.
Most stressed the need to continue the organization's ongoing reforms to make it more efficient, as well as the importance of greater involvement by the secretary-general in peace efforts around the world.
Anonymous vote
On July 30, the 15 members of the Security Council are due to hold their first closed-door, anonymous vote on their preferences among the candidates.
That first "straw poll" will be followed by an unspecified number of similar votes until one candidate can secure the required nine votes without a veto from any of the five permanent members.
The name of the selected candidate will then be sent to the General Assembly for the formal appointment to the position.
He or she will take office on January 1, 2027.
Under a tradition of geographic rotation that is not always followed, Latin America is making a claim to the post this time.
Many states are also calling for a woman to hold the position for the first time.
