Chile withdraws backing for former president Michelle Bachelet as UN secretary-general
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Former Chile president Michelle Bachelet was considered a frontrunner in the race to choose the next UN chief.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Chile withdraws support for Michelle Bachelet's UN secretary-general candidacy after President Kast criticised her and Boric's backing.
- Bachelet, a former Chilean president and UN High Commissioner, was a frontrunner for the five-year term starting in 2027.
- Chile's foreign ministry stated the decision was due to "differences" with actors and the "inviable" chance of success.
AI generated
SANTIAGO - Chile on March 24 said it was withdrawing its backing for the candidacy of former president Michelle Bachelet as secretary-general of the United Nations, ahead of an election that will decide its leader for a five-year term starting in 2027.
The withdrawal of Chile’s support comes weeks after the swearing in of President Jose Antonio Kast, marking the South American country’s sharpest shift to the right in decades.
Mr Kast has repeatedly criticised Ms Bachelet’s presidency and said his leftist predecessor, Mr Gabriel Boric, “made a mistake” when he supported her nomination, alongside Brazil and Mexico, for the leadership of the UN.
Ms Bachelet was considered a frontrunner for the race.
Chile’s first female head of state and two-time president, she served as UN high commissioner for human rights from 2018-22 and executive director of UN Women from 2010-13.
“We have reached the conclusion that given the election, the various candidates of countries in Latin America and the differences with some of the actors who define this process, this candidature and its eventual success is inviable,” Chile’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that it would abstain from supporting any candidate in the election process. REUTERS
