Chile withdraws backing for former president Bachelet as UN secretary-general

By Alexander Villegas and Sarah Morland

SANTIAGO, March 24 (Reuters) - Chile withdrew its backing on Tuesday for former President Michelle Bachelet’s candidacy for U.N. secretary-general, but Bachelet said she would press ahead with support from Brazil and Mexico to lead the world body for five years beginning in 2027.

Jose Antonio Kast, who was sworn in as Chile's president on March 11 in a sharp shift to the right, has repeatedly criticized Bachelet's presidency.

He has said his leftist predecessor Gabriel Boric made a mistake by supporting her nomination.

In a statement Chile's Foreign Ministry said Bachelet's candidacy was unviable and had no chance of success. The ministry added that it would abstain from supporting any candidate in the election process.

Bachelet is among the main candidates for the race to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In a statement later on Tuesday she said she would pursue her candidacy with backing from the governments of Brazil and Mexico.

"A candidacy at this level is never an easy task, but the values and principles that marked my life lead me to assume this challenge with responsibility and conviction," Bachelet said, adding that she understands that "foreign policy changes with a new administration."

Bachelet was Chile's first female head of state. She served as U.N. high commissioner for human rights from 2018-22 and ​executive director of U.N. Women from 2010-13.

The U.N. Security Council will formally recommend a candidate to the General Assembly for election as the 10th U.N. ‌secretary-general later this year.

"Bachelet can still plow on as she also has support from Mexico and Brazil," said Richard Gowan, director of global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group.

While a lack of home country support might be an issue for some U.N. members, Gowan added that Bachelet faces opposition also on other fronts.

"Some Republican politicians in the U.S. have also started to target Bachelet, because of her track record of support for abortion," Gowan said.

"So she is facing multiple challenges that are more about left-right politics in Chile and the U.S. than about her diplomatic skills."

The election will take place in stages, including public hearings with candidates and a secret straw Security Council vote, throughout this year.

Ultimately, the five permanent veto-wielding council members - the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France - must agree on a candidate.

Other top candidates include Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy ​Agency and Argentina's official nominee.

Costa Rica has nominated former Vice President Rebeca Grynspan, the Maldives has nominated Guterres' former special representative for children and armed conflict, Virginia Gamba, and Burundi backed Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal.