Racing for Reform: Candidates Compete to Lead United Nations

Four candidates are vying to become the next head of the United Nations, promising to overhaul the beleaguered organization while upholding its fundamental principles of peacekeeping and development. Antonio Guterres's successor will need to tackle the immense challenge of restoring the U.N.'s waning prestige.

During extensive hearings with U.N. member states and civil stakeholders, candidates committed to reforming the 80-year-old institution founded post-World War Two. Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan stressed the urgency of peacemaking and rebuilding trust, while Senegal's former president Macky Sall advocated for efficient management to improve coordination and productivity.

With fewer applicants than in 2016, the race to head the U.N. includes significant figures such as Chile's ex-president Michelle Bachelet and Argentina's diplomat Rafael Grossi. As tradition calls for regional rotation in leadership and with Latin America poised for the next term, contenders are positioning themselves in a critical selection process vital for shaping the future global order.