US envoy Mike Waltz appears to torpedo ex-Chilean president Bachelet as next UN leader
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Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet is in the running to be the next UN secretary-general. An election for the post will be held later in 2026.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- US envoy Mike Waltz questioned Michelle Bachelet's fitness for UN leader, echoing concerns about her human rights record and stance on China.
- Senator Ricketts criticised Bachelet's 2022 UN report on China and her promotion of abortion, influencing Waltz's negative stance.
- Despite Bachelet's experience and support from some Latin American nations, the US prioritises "the best" candidate focused on UN reform.
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WASHINGTON – The US envoy to the United Nations, Mr Mike Waltz, appeared to torpedo the candidacy of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to be the next leader of the world body on April 15 by saying he shared a US senator’s concerns about her fitness for the job.
At a US Senate committee hearing, Republican Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska charged that Ms Bachelet had pulled punches as UN human rights chief in a 2022 report in failing to label China’s actions against Uighur Muslims as genocide and has also promoted abortion as a fundamental human right.
Mr Waltz said he was not currently in a position to say which candidates the US would support or oppose as the next UN secretary-general.
But he said in response to Mr Ricketts: “I share your concerns.”
He added that he was sure that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also shared the concerns.
A new UN secretary-general will be elected this year for a five-year term starting on Jan 1, 2027.
Support from the five permanent veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council – the US, Russia, China, Britain and France – is vital for a candidate to succeed.
Ms Bachelet also fell foul of China over the Uighur report, which said the detention of Uighurs and other Muslims in the country’s Xinjiang province may constitute crimes against humanity. A representative for her campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Waltz said the conventional wisdom in New York – where the UN has its headquarters – was that, because there had never been a female secretary-general or one from Latin America, the next UN leader should therefore be a Latin American woman.
“We have taken the position of we just need the best,” he said. “And this institution desperately needs strong, effective leadership.”
Mr Waltz said “reform, reform, reform... and getting back to basics on peace and security will be at the top of our criteria”.
Mr Mike Waltz said he shared a US senator’s concerns about Ms Michelle Bachelet’s fitness for the top UN job.
PHOTO: REUTERS
So far, four candidates have been nominated, including Ms Bachelet, Chile’s first female head of state, who twice served as president of the South American nation.
In March, Chile withdrew its backing for her candidacy after a change in leadership in the country and a sharp shift to the right, but she said she would press ahead with support from Brazil and Mexico.
Ms Bachelet was UN high commissioner for human rights from 2018-22 and executive director of UN Women from 2010-13.
The other declared candidates are Mr Rafael Grossi, a veteran Argentinian diplomat who is currently director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Ms Rebeca Grynspan, a former vice-president of Costa Rica; and Mr Macky Sall, a former president of Senegal.
The candidates are due to take part in interactive dialogues next week at the UN that will be broadcast live, starting with Ms Bachelet on April 21. REUTERS
