1.   The Party of the European Left (EL) congratulates the United Nations for the election of António Guterres as next Secretary-General for a five-year term. The new selection process has been an important step in the direction of a more democratic and transparent UN.

2.   EL congratulates António Guterres for this important victory, which he totally deserves, after 10 years of relevant service to the international community in the role of UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

3.   António Guterres has been the guest speaker in the last meeting of our Executive Board and we had the opportunity to have an extensive exchange of views on different issues, with a special focus on refugees’ problem, war and peace and the role of European Union. We were happy to realize that we largely share with António Guterres concerns, opinions, criticism and hope around these matters.

4.   We underline the importance of the UN decision, not only because António Guterres was an excellent candidate, but because some governments and members of international institutions tried to bypass the fairness of the selection process with last moment manoeuvres to impose a name that was not even on the list of candidates.

5.   The disruptive role of some European governments and some members of the European Commission showed the world that the respect for rules commonly and democratically adopted is not the norm in the action of some European leaders in the pursuit of their particular interests. EU countries, people and society as a whole have been victims of this kind of behaviour for many years.

6.   EL considers that last minute candidature of Kristalina Georgieva, Vice-President of European Commission, supported by some governments of EU against other candidates to the post of Secretary-General supported by other governments of EU, violated the principle of independence that members of the Commission are obliged to follow, neither seeking nor taking instructions or support from any government. After this breaking of independence and neutrality towards EU governments, it is unacceptable that Georgieva continues as member of the Commission and must be replaced immediately.

Budapest, the 16th of October 2016