Former President Michelle Bachelet took part on July 23 in the first official debate among the six candidates for UN Secretary-General in New York.
At 5:00 p.m., Bachelet entered the General Assembly Hall alongside María Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Macky Sall. The forum organized by the Office of the President of the General Assembly and supported by Bloomberg featured opening remarks, seven questions per candidate and closing statements.
Bachelet, backed by Brazil and Mexico after Chile withdrew support under President José Antonio Kast, highlighted her record as two-term president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She said “the time has come for a woman to be at the helm” and stressed her ability to lead complex negotiations and build bridges.
On questions about pressure from powerful states, she noted that “neutrality, impartiality and independence are part of my DNA”. The debate addressed UN reforms, multilateralism and responses to crises in Gaza and the Strait of Hormuz.
