Michelle Bachelet Withdraws From UN Secretary-General Race.
Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has withdrawn her candidacy to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, leaving seven candidates in the race to succeed António Guterres.
Bachelet, 74, announced her decision on September 19, 2026, in a video posted on Instagram. She said she would continue her international work despite ending her bid for the UN’s top post.
“I will now continue, with the same determination as always, my international work,” Bachelet said in the video.
The former Chilean president had entered the race citing her political and international experience. She served as Chile’s president twice and later led the UN Human Rights Council. During her campaign, she said she wanted to contribute to UN leadership at a time when multilateral cooperation and respect for international law were facing significant challenges.
Her withdrawal came shortly after the UN Security Council held its third informal straw poll on September 18 to gauge support for the candidates.
The latest poll showed Bachelet receiving one “encourage” vote, 11 “discourage” votes and three “no opinion” votes, according to reports of the confidential ballot. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan received nine “encourage” votes, five “discourage” votes and one “no opinion,” making her one of the leading candidates in the latest round.
The selection process will ultimately require the Security Council to agree on a candidate before recommending that person to the 193-member UN General Assembly for appointment. The five permanent members of the Council — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — hold veto power.
Guterres’ second term as UN Secretary-General is due to end on December 31, 2026. Although Bachelet’s departure reduces the field to seven, additional candidates could still enter the race before the process is completed.
