Chile's ex‑ambassador Valdés blames President Kast for Bachelet's UN SG bid slip

Former Chilean ambassador to the United States Juan Gabriel Valdés said President José Antonio Kast is responsible for former President Michelle Bachelet finishing fourth in the United Nations Security Council’s informal vote for the next Secretary‑General. Valdés called the outcome “the most embarrassing episode in Chilean diplomacy” and warned that the lack of official backing will have lasting repercussions abroad.

The secret, non‑binding poll involved the 15 Council members and placed Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi in the top three, with Bachelet receiving five “discouragement” votes and ranking fourth. While Valdés singled out Kast, other commentators note that the result also reflects the legacy of previous administrations, controversial reforms and domestic political crises that have weakened Bachelet’s candidacy.