EU’s Ribera joins push for first woman to lead UN

European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera on Wednesday signaled support for a woman becoming the next U.N. secretary-general for the first time in the organization’s history. Writing on Bluesky , Ribera said she was “willing to see a woman leading the U.N.” Her comments come as speculation mounts over who will replace António Guterres in the top job when he steps down at the end of December after completing his second and final five-year term. His successor is due to take office on Jan. 1, 2027. Four women feature among the seven candidates seeking to replace Guterres: Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and Ecuador’s Ivonne A-Baki and María Fernanda Espinosa.