Surprisingly, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has intervened in filling the top post of the UN Organization for Migration. © Carolyn Kaster/dpa
The occupation of the chief post of the UN Organization for Migration is causing a stir. The U.S. is forcing a battle vote.
Geneva - The United States is causing a stir in Geneva. In filling the top post of the UN Organization for Migration (IOM), they have abandoned all diplomatic conventions and forced a battle vote in which a US candidate is to overthrow Portuguese IOM chief Antonio Vitorino – a completely unusual procedure with which the US is snubbing the EU.
The 175 member countries began the secret ballot behind closed doors at the United Nations in Geneva on Monday (15 May). The winner is the one who gets two-thirds of the votes. In the case of several rounds of voting, the procedure drags on until Tuesday.
UN Organization for Migration: U.S. wants to overthrow EU man Vitorino
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken campaigned for U.S. candidate Amy Pope, who previously served as Vitorino's deputy. According to Blinken, the reason for the surprise US intervention was the desire to "revive the organization." So far, Vitorino's work has been unanimously praised in diplomatic circles. He had modernized the organization and led it well. Normally, in such cases, incumbents are confirmed by acclamation for a second term.
| International Organization for Migration | |
|---|---|
| Type of organization | Intergovernmental Organization |
| Abbreviation | IOM |
| Lead\t | Antonio Vitorino (Director General since 2018) |
| Founded | 6 December 1951 |
| Head office | Geneva |
| Parent organization | United Nations |
Five years ago, however, the United States suffered a bitter defeat. In the more than 70-year history of the UN Organization for Migration and its predecessors, the top posts were almost without exception occupied by the largest donor, the United States. In the 2018 election, however, the candidate of then-US President Donald Trump failed outright. Ken Isaacs, who worked as a missionary for a long time, had previously expressed criticism of Islam on social networks and cast doubt on man-made climate change.
IOM has offices in 171 countries. Among other things, she helps stranded people return to their home countries and advises governments on how to deal with migrants. It maintains a data centre in Berlin that keeps statistics on people who have died and gone missing all over the world. (cs/dpa)
