Race for new UN Chief Heats up

Twelve candidates are in the race to become the ninth UN Secretary-General after Ban Ki-moon.

For the first time, half of them are women. 

Two daughters of former presidents and one of a farmer; a history buff, a former president, an honorary citizen of Timbuktu and an assortment of foreign ministers, are all vying to be the next chief of the United Nations. 

Eastern Europe is hoping one of its eight candidates will prevail, as its region has never had a U.N.chief. 

There is also a push by more than 50 member states to see a woman selected. 

After weeks of unprecedented public interviews and debate, the decision-making will start. 

The 15-member U.N. Security Council will begin secret, closed-door “straw polls”, an unofficial vote to gauge enthusiasm for each candidate.  

The five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - get to use their veto in the final rounds of the straw polls, meaning they can knock out candidates they do not like. 

Diplomats say by October, they hope there will be a council decision about Ban Ki-moon’s successor. 

Once council members decide, they will send their recommended candidate’s name to the General Assembly, which formally appoints the new Secretary-general.


SOURCE: VOA