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“I know I won’t be secretary-general”: Bachelet speaks about her UN bid

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Michelle Bachelet said she does not expect to become the next UN secretary-general after placing seventh among eight candidates in an informal Security Council survey.
  • She linked the multilateral system’s crisis to changing soft power, saying US influence had declined while China’s had grown.
  • Bachelet’s candidacy continues with support from Brazil and Mexico after Chile’s government withdrew its backing.

Michelle Bachelet delivered a blunt assessment of her campaign to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations: “I know I won’t be secretary-general.”

The former Chilean president and former UN high commissioner for human rights made the remark at a University of Diego Portales event on migration and the challenges facing the world, Latin America and Chile. Her candidacy has suffered setbacks in informal consultations at the Security Council. In the second survey, held in late August, she received six unfavorable votes and ranked seventh among eight candidates. She had placed fourth in the first consultation in July.

I know I won’t be secretary-general.

· Michelle BacheletBachelet assessed her prospects in the race to lead the United Nations.

Bachelet also addressed what she described as a crisis of multilateralism and President Donald Trump’s role in weakening confidence in the system. She said the crisis did not begin with Trump, but had become much stronger during his time, describing the underlying dispute as strategic and structural.

I think it didn’t start with him, but it has become much stronger with him. Because what is fundamentally at stake here is a strategic, structural struggle.

· Michelle BacheletShe discussed the crisis of multilateralism and Donald Trump’s role in it.

She pointed to soft power, including culture and the ability to make countries attractive, as one of the tools available to states. “I think it didn’t start with him, but it has become much stronger with him. Because what is fundamentally at stake here is a strategic, structural struggle,” she said. She added that US soft power had declined while China’s had grown.

“Then, that’s the issue, it’s my opinion, I won’t be secretary-general, I can say it, but it’s a relief,” Bachelet said, laughing. Brazil and Mexico continue to support her candidacy after Chilean President José Antonio Kast’s government withdrew its endorsement in March, saying her chances of success were very low. Bachelet has traveled to meet officials from Security Council member states, but has not secured a meeting with Trump.

Then, that’s the issue, it’s my opinion, I won’t be secretary-general, I can say it, but it’s a relief.

· Michelle BacheletShe closed her remarks with a humorous assessment of her candidacy.
About this summary

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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