The process to select the next UN Secretary-General continues today (5th October) with a further straw poll amongst member of the Security Council. For this, the sixth poll, a new name will be on the list: Kristalina Georgieva.
Ms Georgieva’s name was officially put forward at the end of September, after Bulgaria withdrew its nomination of Irina Bokova and switched its support to the new candidate. This decision, which has long been the subject of the UN rumour mill,1 was apparently taken based on the realisation that Ms Bokova was unlikely to win the support of the Security Council (after she had failed to perform as well as expected in previous straw polls). Therefore, Bulgaria decided to ‘reconsider its (first) nomination… (and) nominate Ms Kristalina Georgieva as its sole and unique candidate for the position of the next Secretary-General.’2 (Nonetheless, as of today, Ms Bokova’s candidature has not been officially withdrawn).
Ms Georgieva is currently European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources (since 2014). Previously, she held the post of European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response (2010-2014), and Vice-President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank (2008-2010).3
Vision Statement
Ms Georgieva’s candidacy was officially presented on 29 September 2016, and like all other candidates (See: Candidates for the post of UN Secretary-General: Where do they stand on human rights?) she submitted a vision statement in support of her application.
In her statement, Ms Georgieva calls for an ‘ambitious agenda across sustainable development, climate change, and human rights.’
Her vision statement focuses on how best to drive progress towards the realisation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the SDGs. She argues that achieving the SDGs will require a global effort, with synergies and partnerships sought beyond the walls of the UN, including with the private sector. The statement also underlines her commitment to tackling climate change.
Regarding human rights, Ms Georgieva argues that this pillar of the UN is indispensable, alongside peace and security, and development. She highlights the role of the Secretary-General in mainstreaming human rights across the other two UN pillars, and notes that ‘it remains critical to support the independence and authority of the UN institutions involved in this (mainstreaming) work.’ She also draws particular attention to the rights of women, and women’s empowerment; and promises to ‘boost women’s role in society.’
Informal Dialogue
Ms Georgieva introduced her candidature during an informal dialogue with the General Assembly on 3rd October.
Highlighting that, in order to be more effective, the UN must ‘anticipate’ rather than ‘react,’ Ms Georgieva placed prevention, which she considers an “overwhelming priority”, at the centre of her dialogue. Accordingly, she stressed the importance of allocating more resources to conflict deterrence. When referring to some of the UN’s most challenging situations, including Syria and the cholera outbreak in Haiti, Ms Georgieva affirmed that the UN must draw lessons from those past experiences, with a view of preventing future crises.
Talking specifically about the human rights pillar, Ms Georgieva affirmed that it must be equally represented and better integrated across development, and peace and security; and she recognised the important work undertaken by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Perhaps in an effort to win support among certain developing States, she acknowledged certain ‘sensitivities’ around human rights, but nonetheless made clear that ‘every man, woman, and child deserves’ to live in dignity.
During the dialogue, Ms Georgieva also discussed issues including migration and the rights of refugees, the current humanitarian crisis, promoting the role of the youth, gender equality and equal participation. On this last point, she noted that during her time at the European Commission, she ‘doubled the number of women in senior positions.’
Map showing current candidates for Secretary-General and former Secretaries-General
Endnotes
1. Agency, Novinite – Sofia News (17 May 2016) Bulgaria’s Georgieva ‘Possible Late Entry Candidate’ for UN Top Job.
Agency, Novinite – Sofia News (14 September 2016) ‘Would Gladly Back Georgieva’ for UN Top Job – Orban.
REUTERS (13 September 2016) Bulgaria says sticking to its U.N. candidate for now after talk of change.
2. Borissov, Boyco (28 September 2016) Letter of endorsement of Ms Kristalina Georgieva’s candidature.
3. Ibid.
Featured image: Behind the scenes at the hearings of the candidate commissioners by European Parliament Licensed under: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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