Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Chile’s decision to withdraw support for the candidacy of former president Michelle Bachelet in the race for the next United Nations Secretary-General has introduced new uncertainty into a contest that was widely expected to favor Latin America, while quietly creating diplomatic space for the candidacy of former Senegalese leader Macky Sall.
The Chilean government announced Tuesday that it would no longer back Bachelet’s bid to succeed António Guterres when his term ends in 2026.
In a statement, Chile’s Foreign Ministry said the candidacy had become “unviable” and declared that the country would abstain from supporting any candidate during the election process.
The move reflects the policy shift under Chile’s new conservative president, José Antonio Kast, who took office earlier this month and has repeatedly criticized Bachelet’s political legacy. Kast had also argued that the previous administration led by Gabriel Boric erred in endorsing her for the world’s top diplomatic post.
Despite losing the backing of her own government, Bachelet signaled she would continue her campaign, citing support from Brazil and Mexico. A former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the first female president of Chile, she remains one of the best-known figures in the race.
Latin America in Rotation Tradition
The contest to select the 10th Secretary-General of the United Nations is expected to intensify later this year when the United Nations Security Council begins informal “straw polls” to gauge support among members before recommending a candidate to the General Assembly.
An unwritten convention within the UN system holds that the position rotates among major global regions. With the last secretary-general from Latin America being Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru, who served from 1982 to 1991, many diplomats have argued that it is now the region’s turn again.
That assumption has so far favored candidates from the region, including Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica and Rafael Grossi of Argentina.
A Fragmented Field
However, Chile’s withdrawal of support for Bachelet highlights the growing fragmentation among Latin American contenders. With several candidates competing for the same regional slot, diplomatic observers say the region risks splitting its backing in early rounds of the Security Council’s selection process.
Such fragmentation could benefit candidates from outside the region, particularly if no Latin American nominee emerges with a clear consensus.
This dynamic has drawn attention to the candidacy of Macky Sall, who has been nominated by Burundi.
Although Africa is not formally next in the regional rotation, the Senegalese statesman’s campaign could gain traction if Latin American candidates fail to consolidate support or face political opposition from major powers.
Challenges Facing Bachelet
Bachelet’s bid also faces ideological headwinds beyond Chile. Analysts note that some conservative politicians in the United States have begun criticizing her record, particularly over her support for abortion rights during her time in office.
According to Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group, Bachelet’s challenges stem less from diplomatic competence and more from political polarization.
Even so, she continues to benefit from international recognition gained during her leadership of UN Women and later as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Opportunity for African Contenders
While the regional rotation convention still gives Latin America an advantage, Chile’s withdrawal of support underscores how fragile that advantage could become if internal divisions deepen.
For Macky Sall and other non-Latin American candidates, the development reinforces a key strategic calculation: that a divided field could eventually open the door for an alternative consensus candidate, particularly if the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council fail to unite behind a Latin American nominee.
With the selection process expected to unfold over the coming months, the diplomatic race to succeed Guterres remains wide open.
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