Secretary-General Helen Clark

While I think it is unlikely, if Helen Clark does emerge as a credible contender for UN Secretary-General, she should be backed with bi-partisan support. Just as Mike Moore, Don McKinnon and Russell Marshall were for their roles with international organisations.

I think however that Sue Kedgley is overly optimistic about Clark’s chances, despite Sue of course being the former girlfriend of Kofi Annan!

Clark would struggle with not just a US veto, but also China and France also. She could well get support from Tony Blair however. The US would not be supportive for the obvious reasons – mind you though they could potentially be persuaded she was better than the rest of the options, so not intractable.

China is highly unlikely to support a non-Asian candidate as Asia has not had a Secretary-General since the 1970s. If no Asian candidate comes close, then Clark could pick up their support as being at least from the region geographically, if not ethnically.

France is highly unlikely to support a female candidate. No easy way around that.