Clark urged to pull out

Stuff reports:

Helen Clark’s poor showings in the race to become the next United Nations boss mean “the only possible conclusion” is that she should pull out, a former runner-up for the role says.

Indian politician and former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor, who came in second behind current UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in the 2006 selection, told RNZ Clark was “an admirable candidate [with] excellent credentials” but could no longer hope to win the role.

I agree.

I was a supporter of Clark’s bid. To my surprise I even got enthusiastic about her winning, in the days before the straw polls – as she did well in the forums.

But the straw polls show she can’t win. You need nine votes to be able to win, and she only has had six in the last two polls. Only if every single other candidate was mutually vetoed, does she have a possibility of coming through – and that is incredibly unlikely.

She’s run a good campaign and the NZ Government has given her massive support. But in my personal view now is the time to withdraw. NZ has just begun the presidency of the Security Council and we’d have an easier time of it if we don’t have a candidate still in the mix.