New York, June 8 – The United Nations Security Council formally nominated Antonio Guterres, the current UN chief, to serve another five-year term beginning in January 2022.
The 15-nation council, the highest political body in the UN system, took the decision in a closed-door session by adopting a resolution to nominate Guterres, a politician and former prime minister of Portugal. It plans to recommend that the 193-nation UN General Assembly formally approve the decision.
Under the UN process of electing its top leader, the council has the privilege to select a candidate and then recommend him/her to the assembly for a final approval.
The UN News reported that Guterres expressed in a statement his “great honor” to be selected, and thanked council members for placing their trust in him.
“My gratitude also extends to Portugal, for having nominated me again”, he added.
“It has been an immense privilege to be at the service of ‘we, the peoples’ and at the helm of the amazing women and men of this Organization for the past four and a half years, when we have been facing so many complex challenges.” said the UN chief.
“I would be deeply humbled if the General Assembly were to entrust me with the responsibilities of a second mandate.”
Before his nomination by the council, Guterres took part in an informal conversation with countries that members of the assembly in May as part of the selection process in the UN. He also made public his vision statement for a second five-year term in March, UN News said.
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