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Bachelet Vows to Push UN Security Council Reforms as Secretary-General Candidate

Michelle Bachelet, a candidate for UN Secretary-General, has pledged to aggressively advocate for reforms to the Security Council to better reflect current geopolitical realities. She emphasized the need for improved geographic representation, including permanent members from underrepresented regions. Bachelet addressed questions from G4 nations, which include India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, who seek permanent seats on a reformed Council. She also stressed the importance of prioritizing development goals and ensuring the Global South has a stronger voice in UN decision-making.

Key Points: Bachelet Pledges to Push for UN Security Council Reforms

  • Pledge for UNSC reform
  • Better geographic representation
  • Support for G4 nations' permanent seats
  • Focus on Global South development
  • Secretary-General's advocacy role
3 min read

UN Secretary-General candidate Bachelet to 'push as much as possible' for UNSC reforms

UN SG candidate Michelle Bachelet commits to pushing Security Council reforms for better representation, highlighting G4 nations' role and Global South priorities.

"push as much as possible - Michelle Bachelet"

United Nations, April 22

Michelle Bachelet Jeria, who is running to be the next secretary-general, has declared she would "push as much as possible" to have the member states reform the Security Council.

"There's a huge movement that they (UN members) understand that the Security Council needs to be reformed, (but) in which way will depend on how members decide", she said on Tuesday at a news conference following a candidates' forum.

The Council needs to have representation of those who are under-represented as permanent members or non-permanent members, she said.

If it is not reformed, there is not much hope for the multilateral system, she added, emphasising the need for change.

Bachelet said that while the secretary-general doesn't have the mandate to reform the Council, she will do her best to convince member nations to act on reforming it.

A pediatric doctor by profession, Bachelet is a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and was the president of Chile, which nominated her along with Mexico and Brazil.

During the candidate's forum, on behalf of G4 Germany's Permanent Representative, Thomas Hans Ossowski asked her what role she would see for the Secretary-General in reforming the Security Council that "does not reflect today's geopolitical realities", and its relevance and effectiveness are questioned.

G4, a group of India, Germany, Japan, and Brazil, lobbies for Council reform, and they mutually support each other for permanent seats on a reformed Council.

Bachelet said that there is a need for making the Council reflect the world as it is today, so it can be more efficient and effective with better geographic representation with permanent members from certain regions, and the secretary-general can play a role in bringing this about.

India's External Ministry Secretary Shibi George asked her about her approach to achieving the developmental goals of the Global South.

Bachelet said the member states should make achieving the development goals a political priority and ensure finances are available for it.

It will also have to be ensured that the Global South is well represented in the different decision-making positions at the UN agencies and the Secretariat, she said.

This is to make sure their voices are really heard, not only in particular group meetings like those on the situation of the least developed countries, but on a daily basis, she said.

There are three other candidates competing to succeed Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends this year.

The Security Council will select the winner and recommend its choice to the General Assembly for approval.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priyanka N
Good to hear a candidate talk about Global South representation in decision-making roles. It's not just about a seat at the table, but about having a real voice in the room. India's G4 strategy seems sensible, but the real challenge is overcoming the veto power of the current P5.
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Robert G
While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm skeptical. Every candidate talks about reform, but the structure of the UN makes it incredibly difficult. The current permanent members have little incentive to dilute their power. I hope she has a concrete plan beyond just "pushing."
A
Aditya G
The mention of development goals is key. For countries like India, true multilateralism means the UN addresses economic justice and climate finance with the same urgency as security issues. A reformed council must prioritize development, not just geopolitics.
K
Kavya N
It's promising that India's question on the Global South was directly addressed. Representation matters. Africa and Asia are severely underrepresented as permanent members. The world's demographics and economic weight have shifted; the UNSC must reflect that. Fingers crossed for real change! ✨
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Michael C
A respectful criticism: The article says the Secretary-General doesn't have a mandate for reform. So what can she actually *do*? Convincing 193 member states, especially the powerful ones, is a monumental task. We need specifics on her strategy, not just aspirations.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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