Fifth Candidate Enters Race to Lead WHO as Nominations Close
The agency faces a $278 million funding gap after the U.S. withdrawal as the executive board prepares to narrow the field in January.
- Five candidates have officially entered the race to succeed World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, following the close of the nomination period on Thursday.
- Applicants include Qatar's Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia's Hanan Balkhy, Belgium's Hans Kluge, Spain's Maria Neira, and Indonesia's Budi Gunadi Sadikin, though additional candidates could be named in coming weeks.
- Voting will follow a structured process, with the 34-member WHO Executive Board shortlisting candidates in January 2027 before the World Health Assembly conducts a final secret ballot in May.
- Financial instability poses a major hurdle for the incoming leader, as the United States left nearly $278 million in unpaid fees after President Donald Trump's 2025 withdrawal from the agency.
- Observers anticipate a push for a 'technocrat' to address budget issues, as Gostin stated that a corporate-minded candidate could be 'very appealing to countries' in the current climate.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Six applicants are officially registered for the election of the new Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). The acceptance of applications was completed on 24 September, and is being transferred to RIA News. The list of candidates includes the head of the WHO European Office, Belgian Hans Kluge, former Minister of Health of Qatar, Hanan Al-Kuwari, and the WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balhi. The Ministe…
Fifth candidate enters race to lead WHO as nominations close - Regional Media News
(Fixes typographical error in headline) GENEVA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A fifth candidate has entered the race to lead the World Health Organization, the agency's website showed as the deadline for nominees closed overnight. • Candidates from five countries have submitted applications to replace Ethiopia's [...]
Fifth candidate enter race to lead WHO as nominations close
GENEVA: A fifth candidate has entered the race to lead the World Health Organization, the agency’s website showed as the deadline for nominees closed overnight. Candidates from five countries have submitted applications to replace Ethiopia’s Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as Director-General of the WHO They are: Qatar’s Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia’s Hanan Balkhy, Belgium’s Hans Kluge, Spain’s Maria Neira and Indonesia’s Budi Gunadi …
The deadline ends at 6 p.m. in Geneva, 5 p.m. in mainland Portugal. So far, the WHO itself identifies four potential candidates, presented by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Indonesia.
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