MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina prepared to support Malcorra's nomination to UN Secretary General post

On her return Ms Malcorra is scheduled to hold a meeting with president Macri to address the UN candidacy issue which is supported by the Argentine government.

Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra most probably will be sponsored by president Mauricio Macri as a candidate to replace the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who is stepping down next November, according to government sources quoted by La Nacion.

 Malcorra is currently overseas visiting several countries and forums, in a three-continent tour, and won't be back until 26 May. On Thursday she will be attending an anticorruption meeting in London where apparently on the sidelines will consider a UK/Argentina agenda of issues including the Falkland Islands.

Apparently on her return to Buenos Aires, Ms. Malcorra is scheduled to hold a meeting with president Macri to address the UN candidacy issue which allegedly has the support from the Argentine government.

“The nomination must be presented by the president of the country of the candidate, but it is normally not done unless there is a strong support from the international community to ensure there is a very good chance”, pointed out the office of Macri's cabinet chief.

Only a few days ago, cabinet chief Marcos Peña pointed out that “Malcorra was top-top as foreign minister” and if she decides to run for UN Secretary General, “it would be an honor for Argentina and for this government that our foreign minister is chosen for that post”, adding that it would be the first woman to reach that position.

A few days ago, Malcorra stated something similar saying that “she would certainly consider” running for UN Secretary General, but pointed out that it can only happen “if president Macri offers me the opportunity” because “it is up to him to decide whether he wants to sponsor a candidate from the country”.

La Nacion repots that top officials speculate that given the new relation of Argentina with the United States, Washington could very well accept the initiative, particularly since there is a global consensus that Ban Ki-moon's successor should be a woman.

Argentine government sources point out that president Macri will give the support and present her nomination if the idea advances, which means Malcorra would have to leave her ministerial job. However other sources close the foreign minister insist that “she is only thinking in her current post and is on the month-long tour visiting several countries complying with her post responsibilities”.

Nevertheless La Nacion concludes the report saying that some close associates of Malcorra have started to plan future activities of the foreign ministry without her at the San Martin Palace.