Four candidates will be publicly heard this week for the position of UN Secretary-General.

Four candidates, Michelle Bachelet, Rafael Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, and Macky Sall, will be publicly interviewed this week as part of the selection process for the succession of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, starting from January 1, 2027. This is only the second time the UN organizes such a public examination, introduced to enhance transparency.

The candidates will be subjected to questions from the 193 member states and representatives of civil society. In the context where many states advocate for a woman to lead the UN, the members of the Security Council, with veto power, will decisively influence the outcome.

Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile, has been criticized for her report on the Uyghur minority, while Rafael Grossi, current director of the IAEA, emphasizes the need for peace. Rebeca Grynspan, known for her development initiatives, and Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, bring different perspectives on global challenges. Their candidacies reflect a diversity of visions regarding the role of the UN in the face of current crises.