Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that Mexico is currently undecided on which candidate to support for the position of United Nations secretary-general, following the withdrawal of Michelle Bachelet from the race. Bachelet, who was endorsed by Mexico and Brazil, stepped back from her candidacy on September 19 after failing to secure enough backing from the UN Security Council.
President Sheinbaum highlighted that Mexico had supported Bachelet due to her extensive experience in international affairs, her commitment to human rights advocacy, and her endorsement of multilateralism. With Bachelet no longer in the running, Sheinbaum stated, “We have no one to support” at the moment. She indicated that Mexico would wait for the next stage of the selection process before determining its position.
In addition to discussing the current state of Mexico’s support in the UN secretary-general race, Sheinbaum called for reforms within the United Nations. She emphasized the need for the organization to enhance its effectiveness in resolving international conflicts and promoting peace and human rights. Sheinbaum argued that the UN should assume a more robust role in addressing global crises.
The race for the next UN secretary-general comes as António Guterres is set to conclude his second term on December 31, 2026. With Bachelet’s withdrawal, seven candidates remain in the selection process, leaving countries like Mexico to reassess their support as the process unfolds.