Guterres says goodbye: “Power of the law must prevail over the law of power”

Amr Guterres, for the last time today, opened the annual debate of the UN General Assembly about three months before leaving the office of Secretary-General.

The head of the United Nations reflected on the events that led to the creation of the UN about 80 years ago, arguing that the organization was created as an act of challenge.

“ The challenge of people who refuse to surrender the future to fear. The challenge against the self-destructive notion that force makes law. The challenge of countries that know that our futures are interconnected. The challenge of hope”, he said.

“I will take this spirit of resolution and determination during each of the 100 days I have left in office”, he added in a speech after which he was applauded standing.

Guterres took over the leadership of the UN in January 2017, having been re-elected to a second term of five years, which ends at the end of this year.

So far, there are seven candidates to succeed you, with several Member States claiming that the next person to lead the UN is a woman, a scenario that has never occurred in 80 years of history.

Many countries also hope that the next Secretary-General can help the organization to dispel the time of multifaceted crisis that is going through and forging a new direction.

However, Guterres said today that the commitment to the values and principles of the United Nations does not begin or end with a mandate.

“ They are greater than any position and they endure beyond any title. So on January 1 [2027], when I am no longer Secretary-General, be sure of this: Wherever I am, whatever I am doing, I will continue to defend the conviction that peace is possible”, he assured.

“That human dignity is universal. That the power of the law must prevail over the law of power. And that our common future is worth fighting for. I will continue to defend the values of the United Nations Charter. And I will never give up”, promised, being widely applauded by the UN General Assembly, full of Heads of State, Government and diplomats.

The last months of Guterres in office take place in a complex world context, marked by geopolitical tensions and growing conflicts, pressure on the financing of development and the organization itself, rapid technological changes and global warming, factors that continue to test the international system.

Last week, in response to the Lusa agency, António Guterres acknowledged that 10 years ago he would not imagine that he would leave the office with a world so deteriorated in terms of peace, inequalities and existential risks, confirming that he will return to Portugal.

“ I think that 10 years ago no one could have predicted that we would come to such a deteriorated situation in terms of peace and security, with a level of inequalities as dramatic as the one we encountered and with two situations that correspond to existential risks: climate and artificial intelligence,” Guterres said at a press conference in New York.

“It would be difficult to imagine a picture as threatening as the one we are facing at this time,” he added.

Asked by Lusa about whether her future will pass through Portugal, Guterres answered affirmatively, but admitted not to have plans reserved for professional life.

“ As far as my professional future goes, I have no idea. With regard to my future, where will I live, I will certainly live in Portugal ", said.