Antonio Guterres elected next UN Secretary-General

World Today

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The United Nations has appointed Portugal’s Antonio Guterres as the successor to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

It was the final stage in the long selection process for Portugal’s former Prime Minister.

CCTV America’s Lorna Shaddick reports from U.N. Headquarters.
Follow Lorna Shaddick on Twitter @lornashaddick

After several months and six straw polls, 67-year-old Antonio Guterres will officially become the next U.N. Secretary-General.

Guterres beat out 12 other candidates including seven women. But that process wasn’t without controversy – especially given that many wanted Ban Ki-moon’s successor to be female. And Guterres was clearly aware of that.

Antonio Guterres is known to be a charismatic leader with plenty of executive and U.N.experience. Many campaigners there want him to bring all that experience and charm to bear on one of the most intractable problems now facing the U.N.-the conflict in Syria.