Michelle Bachelet Withdraws From UN Secretary-General Race
Former Chilean president cites weak polling as she ends bid to become the UN's first female chief
Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, has ended her campaign to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations, according to a report by Al Jazeera published on September 20, 2026.
Bachelet had been seeking to become the first woman to lead the world body since its founding in 1945. Al Jazeera reported that her withdrawal came after she registered low support in polling related to the race.
The report did not detail the specific polling figures or identify who conducted the surveys that informed her decision to exit the contest.
Bachelet, who served two terms as Chile's president and later as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, had been considered one of several candidates vying to succeed the current secretary-general.
Al Jazeera's report did not specify who remains in the race following Bachelet's withdrawal or when a new secretary-general is expected to be selected.
Sources
- Michelle Bachelet exits UN chief race after low poll support — Al Jazeera — All
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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