UNSC to Hold Elections for Five Available Seats
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) will hold elections for five non-permanent member seats today.
Five UN member states— Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique and Switzerland—are currently running unopposed for the five available seats. These states will formally join the other five non-permanent states elected last year and the five permanent members. The new countries will begin their tenure on the council in January 2023 and will serve two-year terms.
While the five non-permanent states do not have the same veto powers as the permanent members, their votes are required to pass binding resolutions and can influence the council schedule via a monthly rotating presidency role.
Expect the War in Ukraine to dominate discussion in the Council in the short-term. The council will likely focus on political and humanitarian dimensions of the war, especially supporting resolutions around UN peacekeeping missions. Furthermore, Switzerland, Malta and Ecuador have highlighted human rights issues, the protection of civilians, and children in armed conflict during their campaigns. Moreover, disarmament and non-proliferation will continue to attract attention in 2023 with three of the candidate countries—Ecuador, Japan and Switzerland—identifying the issue as a priority while geopolitical tensions continue to grow.
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