Secretary General's re-election
I was surprised to notice that there was only one candidate for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations. There were no other interested candidates? The General Assembly and the Security Council were in full agreement that Ban Ki-Moon was the absolute best choice? He might very well be, but only having one candidate for the world’s top multilateral job seems awkward, at best. I feel that in an era in which we condone plurality and democracy worldwide, having only one candidate sends the wrong message, as though his re-election was a foregone conclusion.
I am an advocate. I understand back room deals. I understand diplomatic pressures and leverage. And yet, I feel cheated. I would have liked to see this ‘top’ post be the object of desire by highly qualified candidates. Are there none? Are there no other elder statesmen that qualify for the post? Many names do come to my mind. Were they not interested? Were they not asked?
In coming elections, though I am but a grain of sand, I will rise to the occasion and make more noise about it. I cannot fathom the absence of any alternate choice in this re-election. Meanwhile, we offer Mr. Ban great success during his next five year term.