The Appointment of the UN Secretary-General: Looking for More Transparency, More Democracy

The selection process of the UN Secretary-General in 2016, which culminated in the appointment of António Guterres as the new Secretary-General for the 2017-2021 term, represented a historic turning point regarding the role of the UN General Assembly in this process. This essay gives a historical account of the modalities and practices for the selection of UN Secretary- Generals throughout UN’s history, characterized by the monopoly and opacity of the Security Council. Subsequently, the essay provides a detailed analysis of the negotiations and decisions leading to the appointment of A. Guterres in October 2016, which reaffirmed for the first time the role of the UN General Assembly.