The next UN chief: A self-described man of action
LISBON (Reuters) — The United Nations’ next chief is a self-described man of action who earned his stripes as the world body’s refugee champion, tirelessly pressing rich nations to do more.
Former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Guterres, who last Thursday received the unanimous support of the UN Security Council, has been hailed as the best candidate for the challenging job.
The man he succeeds, UN Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon, 72, described Mr. Guterres as a “super choice.”
“I am sure he will carry the torch on the full range of key challenges, from strengthening peace operations to achieving sustainable development, upholding human rights and easing humanitarian suffering,” Ban told reporters.
An engineer by training and a fervent Catholic, Guterres, 67, fought unflaggingly for migrants’ rights during a decade as UN high commissioner for refugees, from 2005 to 2015.
He repeatedly warned that millions of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere would turn to Europe if nations such as Turkey and Jordan did not receive more help to cope with their refugee populations.
Wealthy countries had to take in more, he said.
“When people say they cannot receive Syrian refugees because they are Muslims, those that say it are supporting terrorist organizations and allowing them to be much more effective in recruiting people,” he said in December.
Guterres vowed to serve “the most vulnerable” when he takes up UN’s top post, such as “the victims of conflict, of terrorism.”
Also frequently touted as a possible candidate for the presidency of Portugal, the Socialist Guterres said he declined to run because he would rather “play ball” than be “a referee.”
“I like action, being on the ground. I like things that force me to permanently intervene,” he said in an interview.
Born in Lisbon in 1949, he joined Portugal’s Socialist Party following the country’s 1974 Carnation Revolution which put an end to nearly five decades of dictatorship.