By Zoey
Former Costa Rican vice president Rebeca Grynspan has pledged that proactive peacemaking and sweeping institutional reform would define her leadership if she is as the next United Nations secretary-general, warning that confidence in the global body is eroding and that the opportunity to restore it is narrowing.
Speaking at a formal candidate hearing at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, Grynspan positioned herself as a candidate focused on early diplomatic intervention, institutional credibility, and rebuilding trust in multilateral cooperation at a time of intensifying global conflict and geopolitical division.
She told member state representatives that the core purpose of the United Nations must remain the prevention of war and the preservation of peace, arguing that the organisation’s relevance depends on its ability to act decisively before crises escalate into full-scale conflict. She said she would prioritise direct engagement with parties on the brink of confrontation and emphasised rapid diplomatic response mechanisms.
In her remarks, Grynspan said she would seek to position herself at the earliest stages of emerging disputes, stating that she would intervene before conflicts erupt, maintain direct communication channels with key actors, and undertake travel to active conflict zones when necessary.
She also outlined a vision of close coordination with the UN Security Council, member states, and international mediators, describing a leadership style centred on sustained diplomatic presence and continuous engagement.
Her candidacy comes as the United Nations prepares for a leadership transition next year, when the current secretary-general António Guterres of Portugal is due to complete his second five-year term. The incoming leader will inherit an institution facing heightened scrutiny over its effectiveness, funding pressures, and its ability to respond to overlapping global crises.
The selection process is taking place at a time when major global powers, while still formally supporting the UN system, have increasingly challenged or bypassed established international norms. Calls for institutional reform, cost reduction, and improved efficiency have grown louder among member states, reflecting concerns about the organisation’s capacity to adapt to a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.
Grynspan, an economist who currently serves as the head of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, also made reform a central theme of her candidacy. She argued that defending the United Nations requires the willingness to change it, presenting internal reform as essential to restoring credibility and operational effectiveness.
She acknowledged concerns that public trust in the organisation has declined and warned that the window for meaningful reform is narrowing. According to her assessment, without significant changes in how the UN operates and delivers on its mandate, its legitimacy and influence could continue to weaken in the coming years.
Born to parents who fled Europe after the Second World War, Grynspan referenced her family background as part of her broader argument about the importance of peace and international cooperation. She described their experience as shaping her belief in the practical value of stability and multilateral engagement, framing her candidacy as rooted in both personal history and professional experience in international development and diplomacy.
Grynspan, 70, is among four declared candidates competing to succeed Guterres. She is seeking to become the first woman to hold the position since the United Nations was founded 80 years ago, a milestone that has been highlighted in discussions surrounding the current selection process.
Her main competitors include former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, who currently leads the UN nuclear watchdog, and former Senegalese president Macky Sall. Each candidate has presented different priorities, ranging from institutional reform to global security management and development policy.
During her own hearing on Tuesday, Bachelet emphasised issues related to human rights and gender equality, while Grossi focused on institutional reform and continuity within the UN system, arguing that existing reform efforts should be strengthened rather than replaced.
Although there is no formal rule restricting eligibility, longstanding tradition has shaped expectations around the selection process. No secretary-general has ever come from one of the five permanent members of the Security Council—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—a practice intended to prevent excessive concentration of influence. However, the support or opposition of those powers remains decisive in the final stages of selection.
The process is expected to continue over the coming months, with additional candidates still able to enter the race. The eventual selection will be made through consultations among member states, with the Security Council playing a central role in recommending a final candidate to the General Assembly for approval.
As the competition unfolds, candidates are increasingly framing their visions around the need to restore confidence in the United Nations at a time when global conflicts, financial constraints, and political divisions have placed the organisation under sustained pressure.
Original article
Comments