USA UN chief on succession: "Clearly time for a woman at the top"
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who is leaving office at the end of the year, has once again spoken out clearly in favor of a woman as his successor. "It is clearly time for a woman to head the United Nations," said Guterres at his traditional annual kick-off press conference in New York. "I have no doubt about that."
30.01.2026, 08:01
SDA
Guterres has been Secretary-General since 2017 and his second and final term of office expires at the end of 2026. A successor must be found by then. In the history of the United Nations, no woman has ever held the top office. "But the truth is - whether at the United Nations or in the leadership positions of the world's most powerful countries - it is time to see women," said Guterres.
Guterres' successor will be chosen by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the UN Security Council. The President of the UN General Assembly, former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, has also spoken out in favor of a woman and called on the member states to nominate their candidates by the beginning of April. So far there is only one official candidate - the 64-year-old head of the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA, Rafael Grossi. He was nominated by his home country Argentina.
