Security Council backs Antonio Guterres as UN chief

The Security Council on Thursday unanimously backed Antonio Guterres, the former Prime Minister of Portugal who was the UN’s refugee chief for a decade, to be the next secretary-general.

During a closed-door meeting, the 15 council members adopted a resolution formally presenting Mr Guterres as their choice to be the world’s diplomat-in-chief.

Applause rang out in the chamber as the council recommended Mr Guterres for a five-year term from January 1, diplomats at the session told AFP.

The 67-year-old socialist politician, who will be the first former head of government to lead the United Nations, has pledged to revamp the global diplomatic body to boost its peacemaking efforts and promote human rights.

Mr Guterres, who was in Lisbon on Thursday, was due to make a statement at 1600 GMT.

A vote by the General Assembly’s 193 member-states to endorse the successor to Ban Ki-moon is expected next week, probably on Thursday.

The unanimous backing for Mr Guterres followed an informal vote on Wednesday during which 13 of the 15 members supported his candidacy and none of the five veto-holding powers blocked him.