UN open election may expose political games

By Zhibo Qiu Source:Global Times Published: 2016-5-3 21:58:01

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT



The high-profile election of the next UN Secretary-General attracted global attention with intensive media exposure and online live broadcasting. This is the first time the UN has opened up its traditionally closed-door selection process for the world most prestigious diplomat. The transparency and openness has raised the expectations of member states and general public toward Ban Ki-moon's successor.

Since its foundation, the UN has contributed tremendously to maintaining global peace and security, and promoting sustainable and inclusive development. However, today reforms are necessary to rebuild the lost legitimacy on conflict prevention and resolution, revise the controversial decision-making process of the Security Council, improve the gender equality and geographic representation of its senior-level positions, and enhance the participation and voice of developing countries.

The most immediate change may be the selection of the first ever female Secretary-General for this 71-year-old organization. Led by Colombia, an active lobbying alliance was formed almost a year ago, called "Group of Friends in favor of a Woman for Secretary-General of the United Nations." So far, 56 member states have joined the group. This campaign calls for a historical implementation of the Beijing Declaration made by the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 to favor female candidates for appointment to UN's senior posts. The group founded an official website and delivered thousands of letters to raise support.

Outside the group, at various occasions, many member states have expressed a preference for a female secretary-general, including five permanent Security Council members. Moreover, more female candidates might be nominated or appointed for other senior positions.

Geographical rotation and underrepresentation of developing countries is another focus. In the past decades, the UN developed an unwritten rule to rotate the secretary-general post among five regional groups - Western Europe and Others, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, Asia and Africa. Many predict that it is time for an Eastern European candidate, which is the only region that has never elected a UN Secretary-General before.

The Group of 77 developing countries has challenged the informal practice where major developed countries - namely the US, UK and France - dominate the most senior jobs in political affairs, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. In the timing of election, the G77 favors candidates who can represent, protect and enhance the interests and voices of developing countries in the UN system. 

Along with the secretary-general's election, a reshuffle of senior officials and political re-alliances of vested groups are taking place inside the UN's New York headquarters. As a highly politicized selection process, preparation and competition often started years ago.

The five permanent Security Council members still have the power to veto any candidate. Based on past experiences, the competition usually becomes a political game between Washington and Moscow.

As The Economist commented early this year, "the race will be dirty: candidates and their allies have been quietly campaigning against one another, and some have promised that evidence of their rivals' corruption will soon emerge." As predicted, negative reporting has already started on two promising candidates, Bulgarian candidate, Irina Bokova, the current Director-General of UNESCO and the New Zealand candidate, Helen Clark, current Director-General of UNDP.

On one hand, the British Daily Mail tabloid published an article on the "alleged scandals" of Bokova, and called her "the darling of Putin" and an "old-fashioned Communist." Other media outlets such as Foreign Policy, a leading Western political publication, followed up on the Mail story to address concerns about Bokova's leadership at UNESCO. On the other side, Helen Clark, favored by many Western European countries, faces accusations about the misallocation of hundreds of millions dollars in foreign assistance for the Afghan National Police.

Bokova and Helen Clark have different leadership style, personality and political agenda. Compared their vision statements and interview performance, Bokova prefers a more humanist and feminist approach with a greater concentration on how to "uphold the shared values and moral authority of the United Nations." A Bokova-led UN might be more likely to increase the representation of developing countries. She supports the principle of a "one size does not fit all" approach and acknowledges the urgent needs and favored special focus for Least Developed Countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In contrast, some argue that Helen Clark demonstrates a strong and authoritarian leadership style as an ambitious professional politician. She is determined to maintain UN's integrity and unhesitatingly use "the unrivaled convening power of the UN." Some member states and UN staff have raised concerns that her strong style might weaken the consensus-based UN decision-making process. She further stated that she believes "difficult choices may be needed and the stakes will be high." Her strong leadership might not always be consistent with the support of major powers.

There is still six months of political campaigning and competition.  The global public will witness whether the UN's first open-door selection could select the best and most highly qualified candidate or still be a result of political compromises among major political powers.

The author is a consultant at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn



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