Who is António Guterres, his secretary general under the fire of criticism?
Here is a Portuguese who executes the cod. António Guterres is a singular character. “As we meet little,” notes the former French ambassador to Syria, Michel Duclos. Brilliant, polyglot, António Guterres, Catholic engineer, climbed the summits of Portuguese political life until becoming Prime Minister (1995-2002). To his credit: the establishment of a guaranteed minimum income and a major reform of the school. He could have stopped his dazzling course there, taking a peaceful retirement on the heights of Lisbon, his hometown.
However, he extended his commitment in 2005, at the head of the High Commission for the United Nations refugees, where he strengthened the emergency intervention capacities of the institution. “He continues an ideal, but with pragmatism,” adds Michel Duclos. This remarkable passage led him, in 2017, to the head of the UN without avoiding the fate reserved for many of those who occupied this position: disappoint.
Between clumsiness and silences
During his first mandate, his reactions were deemed too shy in the face of the persecution of Uighurs in China or that of Rohingyas refugees, Bangladesh. Less political than his predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, António Guterres “multiplied the awkward gestures”, notes Celhia de Lavarène, former organization manager of the organization. Like this controversial visit to Kazan (Russia), in 2024, at the Summit of the Brics (1), in the presence of Vladimir Putin – yet targeted by an international arrest warrant.
He struggled to get the UN out of his immobility, undermined by crises and the right of veto of the five permanent members (2) of the Security Council. He also did not stop the massacres in Gaza and Ukraine. “António Guterres found himself between the fires: the United States and Israel judge him too close to the Arab countries; Those of the South denounce its helplessness in Gaza, when Westerners would like clearer support to Ukraine, ”summarizes Michel Duclos. His second term will end next year. And this time, the Portuguese should indeed discover retirement … with a view of the Tagus.
(1) Cooperation group bringing Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
(2) United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, France.