Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico will continue to support Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for U.N. secretary‑general even after Chile withdrew its backing. Sheinbaum said she will speak with Bachelet by phone and praised her record on peace and human rights. Bachelet said she will press ahead with support from Mexico and Brazil, while Chile has opted to abstain from endorsing any candidate. Bachelet remains a leading contender to replace António Guterres, with prior roles at the U.N. Human Rights Office and UN Women.
Mexico Reaffirms Support for Michelle Bachelet's Bid to Lead the United Nations
FILE PHOTO: Former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet and former United Nations' humanitarian chief Valerie Amos attend the presentation of the report "Women in Multilateralism 2024” during an event by GWL Voices, an organisation of women world leaders committed to building an international system of equality, in Madrid, Spain, January 22, 2024. REUTERS/Susana Vera/File Photo
Mexico City, March 25 — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday that Mexico will continue to back former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for U.N. secretary-general, despite Chile's withdrawal of support the previous day.
Sheinbaum said she planned to speak soon by phone with Bachelet, whose nomination was jointly submitted by Mexico, Brazil and Chile before the inauguration of right‑wing President José Antonio Kast earlier this month.
"We believe that Bachelet is the ideal person to lead the United Nations, and we will continue to support her," Sheinbaum told reporters at her daily briefing.
Bachelet announced on Tuesday that she would press ahead with her campaign with backing from Mexico and Brazil. At the time Brazil had not publicly commented on Chile's decision to withdraw support.
Sheinbaum praised Bachelet as "a woman who seeks peace in the world, who has a vision for building rights, for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, for rebuilding the U.N. as an organization dedicated to resolving international conflicts, and establishing a bill of rights for all the people in the world."
Chile said on Tuesday it would abstain from endorsing any candidate after retracting its support. President Kast criticized the previous administration, saying his predecessor, Gabriel Boric, should not have backed Bachelet's bid.
Why Bachelet Remains a Prominent Contender
Bachelet was Chile's first female head of state and is widely regarded as one of the leading candidates to succeed U.N. Secretary‑General António Guterres. She served as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022 and as executive director of UN Women from 2010 to 2013, roles that supporters cite as central to her international credentials.
The selection process for the next U.N. secretary‑general remains competitive and politically sensitive. Mexico's renewed backing underscores a split in regional support and highlights the diplomatic maneuvering ahead of the U.N. appointment.
Reporting by Sarah Morland and Aida Pelaez‑Fernandez. Edited for clarity and flow.
Help us improve.
