Antonio Guterres takes charge as UN Secretary General

Portugal’s former Prime Minister Antonio Guterres on 1 January 2017 took over as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Guterres took over for a five-year term that can be renewed by member states for an additional five years. He succeeds Ban Ki-moon.

In October 2016, the 193 member states of the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution by acclamation, appointing Guterres as the ninth UN Secretary-General.

About Antonio Guterres

• Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres is a Portuguese politician.

• From 1995 to 2002, he served as the Prime Minister of Portugal.

• He also served as President of the Socialist International, which is a worldwide association of political parties.

• From June 2005 to December 2015, he served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

About Secretary-General of the United Nations

• The UN Secretary-General is the head of the United Nations Secretariat.

• He/She acts as the de facto spokesperson and leader of the United Nations.

• His/Her role is laid out by Chapter XV (Articles 97 to 101) of the United Nations Charter.

• U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt envisioned the Secretary-General as a world moderator.

• Article 97 under Chapter XV of the United Nations Charter states that “the Secretary-General shall be the chief administrative officer of the Organization, but does not dictate their specific obligations.”