Bachelet ends UN bid after third straw poll shows one vote

Michelle Bachelet announced on Saturday that she is ending her campaign to become the next United Nations secretary-general. The decision follows a third indicative vote in the Security Council on Friday in which she received only one "encourage" vote, 11 "discourage" votes and three "no opinion" votes, placing her seventh among eight candidates.

In the first straw poll in July, Bachelet had six encourage votes and five discourage votes. By the second round in August, support had fallen to two encourage votes and six discourage votes. The latest result nearly doubled her opposition count and failed to recover any lost ground.

“I am convinced that leadership is not only knowing when to move forward. It is also knowing when to step aside so the process can continue its course.”

Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica led Friday's poll with nine encourage votes, though she also drew five discourage votes. Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett held eight encourage votes and six discourage votes. Argentina's Rafael Grossi, backed by President Javier Milei, dropped to five encourage votes and eight discourage votes.

Bachelet's candidacy had relied on public backing from Brazil and Mexico. After the August setback, she met with leaders in both capitals and agreed to await the third poll before deciding next steps. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed support but acknowledged the need to assess viability.

Ex-Ante reports that the United States, which holds a veto in the Council, never accepted Bachelet as a candidate. A State Department spokesperson told Folha de Sao Paulo the next secretary-general must move the UN away from what it called an "absurd, politicized and progressive" ideology. U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz echoed criticism from a U.S. lawmaker.