Speaking to Reuters on Thursday, the former Costa Rican vice-president said the UN had become too cautious and needed leadership willing to take diplomatic risks. The United Nations could get its first female secretary-general in its 80-year history, with Rebeca Grynspan emerging as a frontrunner to lead the organisation.
“You are the one that has to take the cost of rejection, the cost of failure, and try again. That’s the job of the UN. She argued that cost-cutting alone would not restore the organisation’s effectiveness. Candidates submit their vision statements, CVs and campaign financing disclosures before participating in public discussions with UN members. To secure the recommendation, a candidate needs at least nine favourable votes and must avoid opposition from any of the five permanent Security Council members: the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Grynspan said she had reduced posts by 20 per cent at her agency while sharpening its priorities, according to Reuters.
(Also read: ‘Unwarranted and unacceptable’: India slams UN human rights office’s concerns over Delhi protest ) “I think that the UN has become too risk-averse,” Grynspan said. The process begins with nominations from member states, according to the United Nations’ official selection and appointment guidelines .
Why is Friday’s vote important?
Friday’s poll will use colour-coded ballots to reveal whether opposition comes from a permanent member with veto power.
