The most significant portal in Germany, Spiegel Online, reported that eventual candidates for the seat of the United Nations Secretary General, are mainly from Eastern Europe and former Yugoslavia. According to Spiegel Online, this major presence of politicians from Europe comes as result of the unwritten tradition to nominate a candidate from Europe, respectively from South-Eastern Europe after a candidate from Asia serves his or her mandate.

Among the most serious candidates, Spiegel mentioned the former head of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, who is from Bulgary, however her chances are small being that she has close relations with the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, therefore this would bother the U.S. The next candidate is former Prime Minister of New Zeland, Helen Clark, who led with UNDP. Former Deputy President of Moldova, Natalia Gherman who is also former UN Commissary for refugees,  Antonio Guterras are also potential candidates. Further, Croatia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vesna Pusic, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of FYROM, Srdjan Kerim, former Prime Minister of Montengro, Igor Luksic as well as Slovenia’s former President Danilo Turk, are reported to be candidates to inherit Ban Ki-moon’s position.