Portugal’s António Guterres to be new UN chief

Former Portuguese Prime Minister António Guterres emerged as the clear favourite to become the next United Nations Secretary-General following the sixth secret ballot held on the 5 October 2016 by the UN Security Council. On the 6 October 2016 the Security Council confirmed this development in a formal vote and forwarded Mr. Guterres’ name to the 193-Member General Assembly for final confirmation. Mr. Guterres had also served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015.

The decision was seen as a major blow to the Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov who had nominated on the 28 September 2016 European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva to be his country’s candidate to run for the post of UN Secretary-General, instead of his original choice, Irina Bokova. Chancellor Merkel of Germany was also thought to have supported Kristalina Georgieva.

• Primary Source

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BBC News 05.10.16: Portugal's Antonio Guterres set to be UN secretary general http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-37566898

ESO: Background information: Four Europeans lead in race for UN Secretary-General http://www.europeansources.info/record/four-europeans-lead-in-race-for-un-secretary-general/

UN: News Centre, 05.10.16: Portugal's António Guterres emerges as favourite for next UN Secretary-General http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55214

The Conversation, 05.10.16: How the UN ended up with António Guterres as its new secretary-general https://theconversation.com/how-the-un-ended-up-with-antonio-guterres-as-its-new-secretary-general-66625

Euro|Topics: Debates, October 2016: Guterres set to become next UN Secretary General http://www.eurotopics.net/en/167330/guterres-set-to-become-next-un-secretary-general

UN: News Centre, 06.10.16: Security Council proposes former Prime Minister of Portugal Guterres as next UN Secretary-General http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55224

The Economist, 05.10.16: A safe pair of hands. António Guterres looks set to become the UN’s next boss http://www.economist.com/news/international/21708215-former-prime-minister-portugal-preferred-any-eastern-european-woman

EurActiv, 07.10.16: Bulgarian opposition demands Georgieva’s resignation as Commissioner http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/bulgarian-opposition-demands-georgievas-resignation-as-commissioner/

World Economic Forum: Agenda, 07.10.16: 4 reasons why tiny Portugal has given us so many global leaders https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/10/4-reasons-why-tiny-portugal-has-given-us-so-many-global-leaders

BBC News, 06.10.16: Antonio Guterres: I will serve most vulnerable as UN chief http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-37576421

Portugal: Government: António Guterres: Candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations https://www.antonioguterres.gov.pt/

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 13.10.16: The selection of António Guterres as Secretary-General shows Security Council horse-trading still trumps transparency at the UN http://bit.ly/2eucBeF

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 13.10.16: Letter from President Donald Tusk to António Guterres, next United Nations Secretary-General http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/10/13-tusk-statement-guterres-unsg/

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 07.10.16: Why the New Secretary General of the United Nations Defies Expectations https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/why-new-secretary-general-united-nations-defies-expectations

EP: EPRS: Briefing, October 2016: The 2016 election of a new UN Secretary-General http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/589866/EPRS_BRI(2016)589866_EN.pdf

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