The Brazilian government will support the candidacy of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet for secretary-general of the United Nations (UN).

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Bachelet’s candidacy was formally presented on Monday (Feb. 2) by the governments of Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.

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In a social media post, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that after eight decades, it is time for the organization to “finally” be led by a woman.

According to Lula, Bachelet’s career is marked by a pioneering spirit. In his post, he highlighted her résumé, noting that she was the first woman to serve twice as president of Chile and the first to hold the positions of Minister of Defense and Minister of Health in her country. He also recalled her high-level roles in the multilateral system.

“Within the United Nations system, she played a decisive role in creating and consolidating UN Women as its first executive director, giving institutional scale to the equality agenda. As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she worked to protect the most vulnerable, advance recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, and give voice to those who most need to be heard,” Lula wrote.

“Her experience, leadership, and commitment to multilateralism qualify her to lead the UN in an international context marked by conflict, inequality, and democratic setbacks,” the Brazilian president added.

Currently, Portuguese António Guterres heads the United Nations Secretariat. He was re-elected in 2021 for a second five-year term (2022–2026), after beginning his tenure in January 2017.

The new secretary-general will take office on January 1, 2027.