Six candidates for UN secretary-general took part in a public town hall in the General Assembly Hall on 23 July. Organised by the Assembly president's office with Bloomberg, the 90-minute event opened another window onto the selection of the organisation's next leader.
The format gave candidates an opportunity to explain their priorities in a shared public setting, extending a process of dialogue with member states and wider audiences. Transparency matters in a contest whose outcome will influence the UN's approach to peace, development and institutional reform. The town hall was part of the selection process, not an election or an announcement of a successful candidate. The formal appointment procedure remained separate from the public discussion.