UNITED NATIONS: Portugal’s former prime minister Antonio Guterres is poised to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations following a decisive vote by the Security Council on Wednesday.
Guterres, who led the UN’s refugee agency for a decade, won backing in the straw poll from 12 of the 15 council members while none of the five veto-holding powers blocked his candidacy.
Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin emerged from the council chamber along with the 14 other ambassadors to declare that Guterres was on course to succeed Ban Ki-moon as the world’s diplomat-in-chief.
“We have a clear favorite and his name is Antonio Guterres,” he said.
Churkin announced that a formal vote by the council will take place on Thursday to confirm the choice of Guterres, adding that he expected the selection to be “by acclamation.”
“We wish Mister Guterres well in discharging his duties as the secretary general of the United Nations in the next five years,” he added.
As the first former head of government to lead the world body, the 67-year-old Socialist politician has pledged to revamp the United Nations to bolster its peacemaking efforts and promote human rights.
During the secret ballot, Guterres won four positive votes from veto holders and one “no opinion”, clearing the way for him to become the new UN chief.
