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| At U.N., Ambassadors Hold Auditions for Next Secretary General | At U.N., Ambassadors Hold Auditions for Next Secretary General |
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| UNITED NATIONS — Think of these as the United Nations primaries. | UNITED NATIONS — Think of these as the United Nations primaries. |
| The nine men and women vying to be the next secretary general of the United Nations subjected themselves this week to an unprecedented question-and-answer session from ambassadors around the world. The candidates made their cases for why they should get the job and what they want the United Nations to be. | The nine men and women vying to be the next secretary general of the United Nations subjected themselves this week to an unprecedented question-and-answer session from ambassadors around the world. The candidates made their cases for why they should get the job and what they want the United Nations to be. |
| Ultimately, only one candidate will be chosen by the all-powerful five permanent members of the Security Council. He or she (there is a strong push for a woman to take the helm for the first time in the 70-year history of the organization) will take office on Jan. 1, 2017 — and will immediately face some daunting global challenges, from stopping wars, to holding peacekeepers accountable for rape, to nudging governments to tackle climate change. | Ultimately, only one candidate will be chosen by the all-powerful five permanent members of the Security Council. He or she (there is a strong push for a woman to take the helm for the first time in the 70-year history of the organization) will take office on Jan. 1, 2017 — and will immediately face some daunting global challenges, from stopping wars, to holding peacekeepers accountable for rape, to nudging governments to tackle climate change. |
| Over three days this week, the contenders took turns promoting their leadership skills, promising a more efficient and effective United Nations, and trying to maneuver around politically delicate questions. | Over three days this week, the contenders took turns promoting their leadership skills, promising a more efficient and effective United Nations, and trying to maneuver around politically delicate questions. |
| None of the nine dared address the specifics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All promised zero tolerance for sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeepers. Nearly everyone spoke favorably about refugees, even as some of their home countries have reacted less than warmly toward foreigners seeking refuge. | None of the nine dared address the specifics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. All promised zero tolerance for sexual abuse by United Nations peacekeepers. Nearly everyone spoke favorably about refugees, even as some of their home countries have reacted less than warmly toward foreigners seeking refuge. |
| Some were asked how they would “rectify” the problem of some countries imposing their values on others. Vesna Pusic, a former foreign minister of Croatia and an advocate for women’s rights, said bravely that no culture is set in stone. | Some were asked how they would “rectify” the problem of some countries imposing their values on others. Vesna Pusic, a former foreign minister of Croatia and an advocate for women’s rights, said bravely that no culture is set in stone. |
| A few candidates promised not to speak in what one aspirant, Danilo Turk, a former president of Slovenia, called “U.N.-ese,” meaning diplomatic jargon. | A few candidates promised not to speak in what one aspirant, Danilo Turk, a former president of Slovenia, called “U.N.-ese,” meaning diplomatic jargon. |
| This is the first race for the secretary general post in the age of social media, and comments poured into Twitter. | This is the first race for the secretary general post in the age of social media, and comments poured into Twitter. |
| It was remarkable these hearings took place at all. In the past, candidates for secretary general lobbied mainly behind closed doors, and a decision emerged, like white smoke, from inside the Security Council. This year, the candidates spoke one by one inside a wood-paneled room known as the trusteeship council. The hearings were streamed live over the Internet. | It was remarkable these hearings took place at all. In the past, candidates for secretary general lobbied mainly behind closed doors, and a decision emerged, like white smoke, from inside the Security Council. This year, the candidates spoke one by one inside a wood-paneled room known as the trusteeship council. The hearings were streamed live over the Internet. |
| Brevity was not a feature of these hearings. Each candidate spoke for at least two hours. Some of them had written so-called vision statements that were nearly as long as the 105-page United Nations Charter. | Brevity was not a feature of these hearings. Each candidate spoke for at least two hours. Some of them had written so-called vision statements that were nearly as long as the 105-page United Nations Charter. |
| Donald J. Trump was channeled at least once. | Donald J. Trump was channeled at least once. |
| At a debate Wednesday night co-sponsored by 1 for 7 Billion, the civil society group that had led the push for these hearings, one of the candidates, Igor Luksic, the foreign minister of Montenegro and a former prime minister, asked: “Do we need to make U.N. great again?” | At a debate Wednesday night co-sponsored by 1 for 7 Billion, the civil society group that had led the push for these hearings, one of the candidates, Igor Luksic, the foreign minister of Montenegro and a former prime minister, asked: “Do we need to make U.N. great again?” |
| The candidates fielded about 800 questions over the three days, according to Mogens Lykketoft, the president of the General Assembly, who presided over the hearings. | The candidates fielded about 800 questions over the three days, according to Mogens Lykketoft, the president of the General Assembly, who presided over the hearings. |
| Over all, three major themes emerged from the sessions with the candidates: | Over all, three major themes emerged from the sessions with the candidates: |
| First, a great deal was said about women. Most notably, many of the men promised gender parity, especially at the top levels of the organization. For instance, António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, said he would establish a plan to achieve a 50-50 gender balance in the organization as a whole. Vuk Jeremic, a former foreign minister of Serbia, said he would select “a lady” as his deputy secretary general, perhaps a woman with more experience than him — which prompted some to wonder why she would be his deputy. | First, a great deal was said about women. Most notably, many of the men promised gender parity, especially at the top levels of the organization. For instance, António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal, said he would establish a plan to achieve a 50-50 gender balance in the organization as a whole. Vuk Jeremic, a former foreign minister of Serbia, said he would select “a lady” as his deputy secretary general, perhaps a woman with more experience than him — which prompted some to wonder why she would be his deputy. |
| Second, all the candidates were prodded about how they would make the organization more efficient and fair. The British ambassador, Matthew Rycroft, pointedly asked the Bulgarian candidate, Irina Bokova, which parts of the United Nations she would shutter to make it more efficient. Ms. Bokova, the director general of Unesco, did not answer. Countries around the world, and United Nations officials themselves, are sensitive about losing favored projects or coveted jobs. | |
| Helen Clark, a former prime minister of New Zealand and the head of the United Nations Development Program, was asked how she would make senior appointments in the secretariat. This is a sensitive subject because several of the powerful permanent members of the Security Council have long monopolized some of the most influential posts; the humanitarian relief chief, for instance, has been a Briton for years. “You can count on me to ensure fair representation,” Ms. Clark said, committing to nothing. | Helen Clark, a former prime minister of New Zealand and the head of the United Nations Development Program, was asked how she would make senior appointments in the secretariat. This is a sensitive subject because several of the powerful permanent members of the Security Council have long monopolized some of the most influential posts; the humanitarian relief chief, for instance, has been a Briton for years. “You can count on me to ensure fair representation,” Ms. Clark said, committing to nothing. |
| Third, there was a lot of talk about the need for a strong secretary general, but no consensus on what that meant. Clearly some countries, namely those that are not veto-wielding members of the Security Council, want a secretary general who can at least occasionally be independent of the Council’s political pressures. On the other hand, the Council’s permanent members are unlikely to want a chief who challenges them and their national interests. | Third, there was a lot of talk about the need for a strong secretary general, but no consensus on what that meant. Clearly some countries, namely those that are not veto-wielding members of the Security Council, want a secretary general who can at least occasionally be independent of the Council’s political pressures. On the other hand, the Council’s permanent members are unlikely to want a chief who challenges them and their national interests. |
| Several candidates, including Mr. Guterres, indicated that they would not hesitate to use an article of the United Nations Charter that allowed the secretary general to bring a peace and security issue to the attention of the Security Council. The current secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has never done so. Privately, many diplomats wondered whether he would have secured the position had the General Assembly held these types of open hearings 10 years ago. | Several candidates, including Mr. Guterres, indicated that they would not hesitate to use an article of the United Nations Charter that allowed the secretary general to bring a peace and security issue to the attention of the Security Council. The current secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, has never done so. Privately, many diplomats wondered whether he would have secured the position had the General Assembly held these types of open hearings 10 years ago. |
| Some have proposed that the next secretary general serve for a single term, rather than two five-year terms, which has become customary. On this, some of the candidates were noncommital. Ms. Clark left it to the members of the General Assembly to decide, saying only: “I can see the case for a nonrenewable term.” | Some have proposed that the next secretary general serve for a single term, rather than two five-year terms, which has become customary. On this, some of the candidates were noncommital. Ms. Clark left it to the members of the General Assembly to decide, saying only: “I can see the case for a nonrenewable term.” |