Former Chile president Michelle Bachelet exits race to lead United Nations

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn from the race to become the next United Nations secretary general after her campaign struggled to gain support among Security Council members.

Bachelet, 74, announced her withdrawal in an Instagram video on Saturday, saying: “I will now continue, with the ⁠same determination as always, my international work.”

The former UN human rights chief and two-time president of Chile had centred her campaign on defending multilateralism and international law.

Her decision leaves seven candidates seeking to replace António Guterres, whose second five-year term as UN secretary general ends on December 31.

According to The Guardian, Bachelet withdrew after a third informal straw poll among Security Council members on Friday showed her support had largely collapsed.

The same poll reportedly placed Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan in the lead.

The 15-member UN Security Council will ultimately recommend one candidate to the 193-member General Assembly.

The General Assembly will then vote on the council’s recommended candidate, although its approval has traditionally been considered largely a formality once Security Council members reach an agreement.

The selection process will determine who succeeds Guterres as the UN’s top diplomat.