Fifth candidate enters race to lead WHO as nominations close

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September 25, 2026 7:14 AM EDT

The logo of the World Health Organization is seen at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

GENEVA, Sept 25 (Reuters) - ‌A fifth ​candidate ​has entered the race to lead the World Health Organization, the agency's website showed ‌as the deadline for nominees closed overnight.

Spain's Maria ⁠Neira joined the competition on the last day for submissions ‌on September 24, the ‌WHO website showed.

• Candidates from five countries have submitted applications to replace Ethiopia's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ​as director-general of the WHO

• They are Qatar's Hanan Mohammed Al-Kuwari, Saudi Arabia's Hanan Balkhy, Belgium's ⁠Hans Kluge, Spain's Neira and Indonesia's Budi Gunadi Sadikin

• Al-Kuwari is a former health ​minister; Balkhy is a physician who heads the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean office; Kluge is ​a physician and WHO's regional ‌director for Europe; Neira is a physician and epidemiologist and former WHO director; ⁠Budi is Indonesia's health minister

• A candidates' forum will take place in November and WHO's Executive Board will shortlist ⁠up to three of the candidates in January 2027

• Tedros ​has led the global health agency since 2017, overseeing its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other outbreaks including Ebola ‌and mpox

• During his tenure, the agency lost its top donor when the ‌US ordered a withdrawal in 2025, with President Donald ⁠Trump accusing the ‌WHO of mishandling COVID, ​a claim the organisation denies

(Reporting by Emma Farge. Editing by Kirsti Knolle and Mark ‌Potter)


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