The charter is vague in defining the duties of the secretary-general, the United Nations’ top official.
He or she is expected to show no favoritism to any particular country, but the office is largely dependent on the funding and goodwill of the most powerful nations.
The Security Council — notably the P5 — chooses the secretary-general, by secret ballot, to serve a maximum of two five-year terms.
This process makes it difficult for the role to be independent of the P5’s influence.
The secretary-general has no army to deploy, but what the position does enjoy is a bully pulpit.
If the officeholder is perceived as being independent, he or she is often the only person in the world who can call warring parties to the peace table.
The 10-year tenure of the current secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, has repeatedly revealed the limits of the office’s authority.
