UNITED NATIONS, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives has decided to withdraw the candidacy of Virginia Gamba, former UN under-secretary-general and Argentine scholar, for the position of the next UN secretary-general, the Office of the President of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) said Thursday.
The Maldives has notified the president of the UNGA and the president of the Security Council of its decision to withdraw its nomination of Gamba, according to a note to correspondents issued by the spokesperson of the Office of the President of the UNGA.
With the withdrawal, there are four candidates for the next UN secretary-general: former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, originally nominated by Chile, Brazil and Mexico; Rafael Grossi, the current director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nominated by Argentina; Macky Sall, former president of Senegal, nominated by Burundi; and Rebeca Grynspan, economist and former vice president of Costa Rica, nominated by Costa Rica.
According to documents posted on the website of the United Nations on Thursday, Chile has withdrawn its nomination of Bachelet, but she will remain as a candidate nominated by Brazil and Mexico.
Antonio Guterres, the current and ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, took office in January 2017. The next UN secretary-general will take over the role from Jan. 1, 2027. ■
