The Ecuadorian, María Fernanda Espinosa, has entered the race to succeed Guterres as the head of the United Nations.

GENEVA – The race to succeed António Guterres as head of the United Nations intensified this Tuesday with the confirmation of a new Latin American candidate and a growing regional push for a woman to lead the multilateral organization for the first time in its history. According to Reuters, María Fernanda Espinosa was nominated by Antigua and Barbuda to compete for the position of UN Secretary-General. The Ecuadorian diplomat joins a field that already includes other prominent international political figures such as Michelle Bachelet, Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Mariano Grossi, and the former Senegalese president Macky Sall. María Fernanda EspinosaInstagram The elections are scheduled for later this year, and the winner will assume office on January 1, 2027, replacing Guterres, whose second term ends after a period marked by the pandemic, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and growing tensions between major powers. Espinosa, 61, is one of Ecuador's most well-known diplomats on the international stage. She served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and also of Defense under various Ecuadorian governments, and from 2018 to 2019, she presided over the UN General Assembly, becoming the fourth woman to hold that position. A poet, academic, and specialist in environmental and human rights issues, she has spent much of her career in multilateral organizations. During her time at the United Nations, she promoted initiatives related to gender equality, climate change, human mobility, and strengthening multilateralism. María Fernanda EspinosaInstagram Her nomination by Antigua and Barbuda also reflects a common strategy in international diplomacy, where smaller states sponsor candidates from regional figures to broaden consensus within the General Assembly. The discussion about the succession is driven by a long-standing demand from diplomats and international organizations: for the UN to be led by a woman for the first time since its founding in 1945. In this context, Bachelet's candidacy gained prominence after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with the former Chilean president at the Palácio do Planalto yesterday and publicly expressed his support. "Her experience as a head of state and her deep knowledge of the UN are qualities that qualify her to become the first Latin American woman to lead the organization," Lula said after the meeting, according to ANSA. The Brazilian president also used the meeting to reiterate a long-standing demand from Brazil: a reform of the UN Security Council to expand the number of permanent members and include Latin American representation. The Chilean Michelle Bachelet has a high international profile. She has served twice as President of Chile and was a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She is considered one of the Latin American leaders with the most experience in multilateral organizations. Her tenure leading the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights was marked by critical reports on China, Venezuela, and Afghanistan, which generated both support and resistance. Another woman in the running is Rebeca Grynspan, the current Secretary-General of UNCTAD. An economist and former Vice President of Costa Rica, she has an extensive track record in international development and has held prominent positions at the United Nations Development Programme. Within the UN system, she is seen as a figure of technical and political consensus. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy AgencyMICHAEL M. SANTIAGO - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA Argentina is represented by Grossi, the current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who has gained significant international prominence in recent years due to negotiations with Iran and the war in Ukraine. A career diplomat with experience at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he maintains a moderate profile and an extensive network of contacts in Washington, Europe, and the Middle East. Macky Sall, the President of Senegal from 2012 to 2024 and former President of the African Union, represents Africa. During his tenure, he sought to position himself as a prominent voice of the "Global South" and played an active role in international negotiations on debt, food security, and relations between Africa and the West. Although the Secretary-General is formally elected by the General Assembly, the real decision depends on the Security Council, especially its five permanent members – the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom – which have the power of veto. This makes the election a delicate diplomatic game where not only personal credentials matter, but also regional balances and global geopolitical tensions. Latin America argues that it is its regional turn to hold the position, as no Latin American has led the UN since Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru left office in 1991. Furthermore, many governments believe that the current international context makes it even more urgent for a woman to hold the top position in the organization. Agencies Reuters and ANSA ONURafael GrossiMichelle Bachelet Read more Other news from the UN