Spanish PM calls for a woman from Latin America to lead the United Nations

During his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged the organization to elect a woman from Latin America as the next Secretary-General. Sanchez questioned how an institution representing humanity could have never had a female leader and highlighted that the position has not been held by a representative from the third most populous continent in three decades.

The current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is set to complete his second five-year term at the end of December 2026. According to the informal regional rotation principle, which is not strictly legally binding, it is considered the turn of South America to hold the office. Currently, seven candidates—four women and three men—are competing for the position. Sanchez emphasized that appointing a female leader is an 'historical debt' that must be addressed, particularly amidst rising global challenges such as gender-based violence, misogyny, and xenophobia.

The international community is now looking toward the upcoming selection process as the mandate of the current leadership concludes. The outcome will depend on the consensus reached within the UN, as the organization faces pressure to fulfill its commitment to gender equality and geographic representation in its highest office.