United Nations hosts televised debate of six candidates for next secretary‑general

On July 23 2026, the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York hosted a live televised debate organized by President of the General Assembly Annalena Baerbock and Bloomberg. The event marked the first public forum for candidates to succeed Secretary‑General António Guterres, whose term ends on 31 December 2026.

The six officially nominated candidates were: former Chilean President and UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet (Chile); former Ecuadorian UNGA President María Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador); Argentine director‑general of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi (Argentina); former Costa Rican Vice‑president and UNCTAD Secretary‑General Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica); Guyanese Permanent Representative Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett (Guyana); and former Senegalese President Macky Sall (Senegal). Each answered 90 minutes of questioning from diplomats, UN staff and civil‑society representatives on UN reform, financing, Security‑Council deadlock, climate change and ongoing conflicts such as Gaza and the Strait of Hormuz.

All candidates stressed the need to restore confidence and efficiency in an organization confronting a financial crisis and criticism from the United States, while reaffirming the UN Charter’s three pillars—peace and security, human rights and development. They each outlined priorities for the first 100 days should they be elected, emphasizing greater transparency, stronger mediation capacity and more effective multilateral action.