The UN is preparing to choose a new secretary general for the first time in a decade as six candidates vie to succeed António Guterres of Portugal. Calls for a “madame secretary general” have been growing “louder”. I hope so,” adding that appointing a woman as secretary general would be “a good signal”. The secretary general is the chief administrative officer and public face of the UN. However, unlike a prime minister or president, the secretary general does not have the power to make laws or command countries.