Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico is undecided on which candidate to support for the next United Nations secretary-general following Michelle Bachelet’s withdrawal from the race. Bachelet, a former president of Chile, exited the candidacy on September 19 after not gaining enough backing from the UN Security Council.
President Sheinbaum indicated that Mexico initially supported Bachelet due to her extensive experience in international affairs and her commitment to human rights and multilateralism. With Bachelet out of the running, Mexico finds itself in a position of having no clear candidate to endorse at this stage. Sheinbaum stated that the government would wait for the next phase of the selection process before making any decisions.
Alongside Brazil, Mexico had been a proponent of Bachelet’s candidacy since the beginning. The selection of the next UN secretary-general is significant as the chosen individual will succeed António Guterres, whose term concludes on December 31, 2026. With Bachelet’s departure, seven candidates remain in the selection process.
In her remarks, Sheinbaum also called for reforms within the United Nations, emphasizing the need for the organization to adopt a more effective role in addressing global conflicts and advancing peace and human rights. She stressed that the UN should enhance its capacity to deal with crises worldwide.