Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet wants to be the next United Nations’ next secretary-general. File Photo by Sashenka Gutierrez/EPA
SANTIAGO, Chile, March 24 (UPI) — Citing low chances of success, the government of President José Antonio Kast has withdrawn Chile’s support for former President Michelle Bachelet’s bid to become United Nations secretary-genera.
Former President Gabriel Boric announced Bachelet’s candidacy in September by and it had secured official backing from Mexico and Brazil.
“We have concluded that the current context of this election, the fragmentation of candidacies from Latin American countries and differences with key actors involved in the process make this candidacy unviable and unlikely to succeed,” Chile’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.
The ministry added that it and Chilean embassies will no longer participate in efforts to promote Bachelet’s candidacy abroad.
“In consideration of former President Bachelet’s career, and if she decides to continue her candidacy, Chile will refrain from supporting any other candidate in this electoral process,” authorities said.
In a public statement, Bachelet said her candidacy reflects a shared vision on the need to strengthen the international system and to contribute, from Latin America, to a United Nations capable of addressing today’s challenges.
She added that in a turbulent world, “reforming and strengthening the multilateral system is not a slogan,” but an urgent necessity.
“My willingness to contribute to this challenge remains unchanged. For that reason, I will continue working jointly with the governments of Brazil and Mexico, which have put forward my name, reaffirming the collective nature of this project,” Bachelet said.
The two-time president of Chile, who also served as executive director of U.N. Women and as U.N. high commissioner for human rights, is seeking to succeed U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of Portugal, whose term ends in December.
After her candidacy was announced in September 2025, its momentum stalled after the change of administration in Chile.
Kast’s rise to power, after he repeatedly said Boric had made a mistake in backing Bachelet, coincided with reported concerns among Chilean officials about potential resistance from the United States to her candidacy.
According to local newspaper La Tercera, much of Chile’s political right pushed to withdraw the bid, pressure that intensified after Bachelet did not attend Kast’s inauguration March 11.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who had also been invited, were absent, as well.
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