António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

See - Sada Elbalad

4 days ago

Dr. Hadi Eltonsi Physician and Former Ambassador
How did a devout engineer and academic become a parliamentarian, party leader, Prime Minister, and leader of continental, partisan, and international organizations, ultimately being chosen as Secretary-General of the United Nations? And how could he achieve such uniqueness and excellence that opinion polls in his own country, Portugal, selected him as the best student and the best Prime Minister over thirty years? And how, being from a Western NATO member country, did he combine in his person the pragmatism of politicians, the systematic scientific thinking of an engineer, and the nobility and refinement of feeling – to the extent that he became the UN High Commissioner for Refugees? This is in addition to his commitment to gender equality, human rights, and the vulnerable. In a world torn by conflicting interests and disputes, can leaders possess a combination of deep rationality, high human sensitivity, endurance and patience in facing disasters, and the ability to communicate and negotiate with empathy, humility, and active listening skills, while adhering to personal principles and upholding human dignity?
After leaving university teaching, he worked as a parliamentarian from the age of 27 on multiple committees for Economic and Financial Affairs, Planning, Regional Administration, Municipal Councils, and the Environment. He also led his party's parliamentary group. In the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, he chaired the Committee on Demography, Migration, and Refugees. He even became leader of the Portuguese Socialist Party, Prime Minister, President of the Socialist International, and President of the European Council. He was also a member of the Club of Madrid, an alliance of democratic leaders composed of former presidents and prime ministers from around the world.
During his service as Prime Minister (1995-2002), he focused on tightening control over the budget and inflation in an attempt to ensure Portugal met the Euro convergence criteria by the end of the decade. He also increased labor market participation rates, especially among women, improved tax collection, took strict measures against tax evasion, increased the role of the cooperative and voluntary sectors in providing welfare services, implemented a guaranteed minimum income through means-testing, and increased investment in education. Later, with economic expansion, he increased welfare spending and accelerated privatization programs. He paid particular attention to social development and the problems of refugees, the poor, and consumers. In foreign policy, aiming to end his country's colonial legacy, he worked for UN intervention to resolve the problem of East Timor after its independence from Indonesia and led negotiations for the handover of Macau to Chinese administration. His method of resolving thorny domestic issues was characterized by opening them up for dialogue and discussion.
During his university years, Guterres joined "Luz" (The Light), a Catholic youth group. This, in addition to his upbringing in a conservative Catholic environment, later manifested in his moral and humanitarian inclination. Throughout his career, he has been preoccupied with the cause of social justice and human rights. This also supported his work as UN High Commissioner for Refugees (2005-2015) during some of the most dangerous displacement crises and conflicts in Syria and Iraq, and crises in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen. During this time, UNHCR activities surged significantly as the number of people displaced by conflict and persecution increased. This same inclination reappeared in his leading role as UN Secretary-General to end the suffering of the people of Gaza, with moral courage insisting on a ceasefire and an end to genocide and displacement.
In his position as UN Secretary-General, Guterres is driven by a deep belief in the ability of the international community to overcome divisions and find peaceful solutions to conflicts. Clearly, among his core issues is defending vulnerable groups, particularly refugees and displaced persons. This humanitarian drive stems from his firm conviction that human dignity should not be a bargaining chip. He possesses emotional intelligence, combining pragmatism and compassion. He has high-level negotiation skills and a rare ability to listen, which makes him acceptable to disparate political parties. His patience and emotional balance give him the ability to work under immense pressure without abandoning his principles.
As an empathetic mediator, he is one of those figures whose strength derives from their ability to build bridges of trust and manage conflicts by creating safe spaces for dialogue. He tends towards systematic thinking and maintains good control over his emotions, but he also displays a profound sensitivity to the suffering of others. This perhaps stems from his history of working with refugees, where he developed a psychological capacity to coexist with pain without succumbing to emotional paralysis, instead transforming it into a driving force for action.
True leadership is measured not only by a leader's ability to issue orders or negotiate, but also by their capacity to listen, to be humble, and to adhere to values even in the darkest circumstances. As an engineer, scientific disciplines can be a gateway to an organized and deep understanding of human problems, when coupled with an ethical sense and concern for the public good. In conclusion, he is not merely a high-ranking international official; he is an itinerant human conscience moving among conflicting capitals, carrying in his heart the aspirations of millions of the vulnerable and afflicted. He may not possess a magic wand to solve all crises, but he represents the voice of reason and conscience in a world seeking balance between interests and principles. Understanding his character and biography serves as a reminder to us that humanity, when allied with intelligence and will, can make a real difference even in the most complex environments.
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