Updated on
Summary The worst kept secret at the UN is that Ban Ki-moon wants a second term as secretary general.
Ban has also been quietly lobbying for support from the 192 UN member states for a second five-year term.UN diplomats said the South Korean is expected to announce his candidacy for a second term at a news conference on Monday. Ban has scheduled the news conference to discuss his recent travels to Ivory Coast for the presidents inauguration; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the African Union summit; as well as to Nigeria, France and Italy. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because there has been no official announcement.Bans spokesperson would not confirm that the UN chief planned to announce that he is seeking a second-term.Once Ban makes an announcement, the UN Security Council must give a positive recommendation, which it would do in a resolution that needs at least nine yes votes and no veto by a permanent member the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China. The General Assembly would then elect Ban for a second term starting Jan. 1, 2012, probably by acclamation.
