Michelle Bachelet Withdraws Bid for UN Secretary-General

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew her candidacy for United Nations Secretary-General on September 20, 2026. Announcing the decision via social media, Bachelet stated that the results of the Security Council straw polls indicated the moment had come to "step aside so the process can run its course."

Bachelet's support collapsed during a third informal straw poll, where she received 11 discourage votes and only one encourage vote. Her campaign, which focused on multilateralism and international law, had already been weakened in March 2026 when the government of President Jose Antonio Kast withdrew official state sponsorship, reversing a previous bid presented by President Gabriel Boric. Despite losing government backing, Bachelet maintained support from Brazil and Mexico.

Her exit leaves seven candidates to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose term ends on December 31. While reports vary on the third poll's leader, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica remain the primary frontrunners. The selection process occurs as the UN faces an "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid dues, largely from the United States under President Donald Trump, who has withdrawn the U.S. from 31 UN organizations.

Bachelet noted that her candidacy helped spark a necessary debate regarding the need for a woman from Latin America to lead the organization, as no woman has ever held the post in the UN's 80-year history.