Overview

• President Gabriel Boric used his UN General Assembly speech to formally put forward Bachelet to succeed António Guterres when his term ends on December 31, 2026.
• Boric argued the selection should reflect both regional rotation toward Latin America and the UN’s need to finally be led by a woman.
• Bachelet is a two-term former Chilean president who also led UN Women and served as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
• Responding to the announcement, Bachelet said it was an honor and reaffirmed her familiarity with the UN and commitment to its mission.
• The field remains competitive, with other Latin American figures such as Mexico’s Alicia Bárcena and Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan discussed as possible contenders, and Boric’s address also included a rebuke of President Donald Trump over climate change denial.