Michelle Bachelet makes bid to become first female UN chief

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has taken a major step in her bid to become the first woman to lead the United Nations.

After more than three hours of discussions, Bachelet addressed the media, where she was asked by Rudaw's Namo Abdulla why the nearly 80-year-old UN has never had a female Secretary-General.

"Last election, there was also [a] movement that a woman, in 2016, should be a Secretary General. And many countries have made that public statement," Bachelet said, adding that "there were a lot of female candidates, but at the end it did not happen."

"I would say if I'm going to, if I am polite, I would say the world was not prepared for it. Is it prepared now? I hope so," she said.

The Secretary-General serves a five-year term, which can be renewed once. The next term is set to begin on January 1, 2027, as Antonio Guterres is finishing his second and final term at the end of 2026, meaning the selection process and final decision are expected to be concluded during 2026.

The selection of the UN Secretary-General is led by the United Nations Security Council, which recommends a candidate to the General Assembly. Any of the five permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France - can block a candidate through their veto power.

The United Nations General Assembly then formally appoints the Secretary-General, typically following the Security Council’s recommendation.

Since the UN’s founding in 1945, nine men have held the position of Secretary-General.

Bachelet is considered a leading contender in the race, though she faces strong competition from Rafael Grossi, who currently heads the International Atomic Energy Agency.