You’ve probably seen him on the news, standing behind a podium with that familiar blue-and-white laurel wreath background. He looks like a kindly grandfather, but he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
António Guterres is the leader of the United Nations. Specifically, he holds the title of Secretary-General. He is the ninth person to hold this office. He took over from Ban Ki-moon back in 2017 and is currently serving out the final year of his second five-year term.
As of January 2026, we are in a bit of a transition period. Guterres is slated to step down on December 31, 2026. This means the hunt for the next "world moderator" is officially on. Honestly, it’s one of the most stressful, high-stakes hiring processes on the planet.
Who Exactly is António Guterres?
Before he was the top diplomat on Earth, Guterres was the Prime Minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002. He’s not just a career politician, though. He’s an engineer by training. Maybe that explains why he approaches global problems like a massive, broken machine that needs fixing.
He also spent a decade as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. That’s a "boots on the ground" role. He saw the absolute worst of human suffering long before he moved into the fancy office in New York.
People often wonder if he has real power. Well, he’s often described as equal parts diplomat and advocate. He is the "Chief Administrative Officer," which sounds like a boring HR title, but Article 99 of the UN Charter gives him a unique "superpower." He can bring any matter that threatens international peace directly to the Security Council. It’s the ultimate "hey, look at this" button.
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How Do You Even Get That Job?
You can’t just apply on LinkedIn.
The selection of who the leader of the United Nations will be is a complex dance between the big powers. The Security Council—specifically the five permanent members (the US, UK, France, China, and Russia)—has to recommend a candidate. Then, the General Assembly appoints them.
If any one of those five permanent members says "no," the candidate is toast. It’s called a veto.
Historically, the job rotates through different regions of the world. We’ve had leaders from:
- Western Europe (like Guterres)
- Asia (Ban Ki-moon)
- Africa (Kofi Annan)
- Latin America (Javier Pérez de Cuéllar)
Right now, there is a massive push for the next leader to be a woman. In the 80-year history of the UN, there has never been a female Secretary-General. Candidates like Michelle Bachelet (former President of Chile) and Rebeca Grynspan are already being discussed in diplomatic circles for the 2026 selection.
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The Reality of Being the World’s Referee
Let’s be real: the Secretary-General doesn't have an army.
They can’t force a country to stop a war. They can’t pass laws. They lead through "moral authority" and "quiet diplomacy."
Guterres has spent most of 2025 and early 2026 screaming into the wind about three main things: the "climate abyss," the risks of unregulated Artificial Intelligence, and the inequality of the global financial system. He’s been particularly vocal about how developing nations are getting crushed by debt.
Some critics say the role is becoming obsolete because the world is so divided. When the Security Council is deadlocked—which happens a lot lately—the Secretary-General is basically the only person left in the room trying to keep everyone talking.
Key Details About the Office:
- Term Length: 5 years (usually renewed once).
- Current Deputy: Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria.
- Home Base: UN Headquarters, New York City.
- Annual Salary: Around $227,000 (though most of it goes toward official duties).
The 2026 Race: What Happens Next?
Since Guterres is leaving at the end of this year, 2026 is going to be a whirlwind of secret meetings and "straw polls."
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By July 2026, the Security Council will start narrowing down the list of names. By October, we usually have a winner. The new leader will then spend two months "shadowing" Guterres before taking the oath on January 1, 2027.
If you’re following global politics, watch the names coming out of the Latin American and Caribbean group. It’s technically "their turn" according to the unofficial regional rotation.
The UN isn't a world government. It’s a place where 193 countries try not to blow each other up. The person at the top has to be a master of the "art of the possible." They are the person who has to tell a superpower they are wrong without making them walk out of the room.
If you want to stay updated on the selection process, the official UN website (un.org) has a dedicated portal for the 2026 Secretary-General selection. You can also follow the "1 for 8 Billion" campaign, which is a coalition of NGOs pushing for more transparency in how the leader is chosen. Keeping an eye on the "President of the General Assembly" announcements is the best way to see who the official nominees are as they are submitted by their home countries.