The UN General Assembly unanimously elected Antonio Guterres to a second term as secretary-general on Friday.
The 15-member Security Council earlier this month recommended the General Assembly reappoint Guterres. Under the UN Charter, the General Assembly appoints the secretary-general on the recommendation of the Security Council. His second term officially starts on January 1, 2022.
Guterres was the only candidate nominated by a UN member state, his home country Portugal where he previously served as prime minister. Guterres was given another five years at the helm of the 193-member organization at a time when a deeply divided world faces numerous conflicts, the growing impact of climate change, and a pandemic still circling the globe.
Guterres, a former UN refugee chief, was elected by the assembly to succeed Ban Ki-moon after a hotly contested and transparent race in October 2016 that initially included 13 candidates. Guterres took office on Jan. 1, 2017.
The 15-member Security Council earlier this month recommended the General Assembly reappoint Guterres. Under the UN Charter, the General Assembly appoints the secretary-general on the recommendation of the Security Council. His second term officially starts on January 1, 2022.
Guterres was the only candidate nominated by a UN member state, his home country Portugal where he previously served as prime minister. Guterres was given another five years at the helm of the 193-member organization at a time when a deeply divided world faces numerous conflicts, the growing impact of climate change, and a pandemic still circling the globe.
Guterres, a former UN refugee chief, was elected by the assembly to succeed Ban Ki-moon after a hotly contested and transparent race in October 2016 that initially included 13 candidates. Guterres took office on Jan. 1, 2017.
