Prior to his late-evening meeting with the UN Secretary-General, Szymon Hołownia spoke in New York, among others, with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock.
Speaking to the media after his talks with Antonio Guterres, Poland's Lower House speaker Hołownia emphasized that "this was not a job interview" but a get-to-know-you meeting. "No commitments were made" - he emphasized. "We simply exchanged views on what's happening in the world today".
As Szymon Hołownia continued - his UN interlocutors "listened attentively to the Polish perspective on the current events". The talks focused on, among other things, "the ongoing cognitive warfare that affects so many minds today - and how to effectively manage the current crises" - Hołownia continued.
He added that the Secretary General Guterres spoke about his earlier experiences as UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "I, in turn, spoke about my experiences - my fieldwork in the non-profits I founded and managed. Of course, there's a difference in age and experience between us, but nevertheless I have the impression that we have a similar background. We both entered politics through helping people in need" - Szymon Hołownia pointed out.
Asked if he had the impression that the top UN officials take his candidacy seriously, Hołownia confirmed. "If I may say so - I think that the Secretary General really does. Me applying is not just some figment of mine, but this is Poland's candidacy, first and foremost. And we are a country at the centre of attention on a global stage today. We have not only a good position in the European Union, but also good relations with the United States" - speaker Hołownia added.
He also noted, however, that the process of appointing the next Commissioner will take another month at least, and there are still hundreds of interviews to be held. "For now, I'm on a shortlist of candidates - and it is difficult to say who the frontrunners are, because new candidates are still announcing themselves, even today. So, we will see...” - Szymon Hołownia concluded.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), elected by the UN General Assembly for a five-year term, is currently responsible for protecting nearly 130 million forcibly displaced and stateless people worldwide. The term of office of the current Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, ends on December 31, 2025.
Applications for the position of UN High Commissioner for Refugees are open until October 6th. Before year's end, the UN Secretary-General will then present the nomination, and after that the appointment will have to be approved by the General Assembly.
Szymon Hołownia apart, candidates from Turkey, Germany, Denmark, Pakistan, and Switzerland are also vying for the position. Swiss diplomat Suzanne Burgener, who served as the UN envoy for Burma, is pointed out by the experts as one of the frontrunners to take the post.
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Source: IAR, PAP