The recommendation, made in a resolution adopted in a private meeting by acclamation, now goes to the 193-member General Assembly for formal approval.

On an official visit to Italy, Mr. Ban said in Rome this morning that Mr. Guterres is “an excellent choice," noting that the two had worked closely during Mr. Guterres “long and outstanding tenure” as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

“He showed deep compassion for the millions of people who were forced to leave their homes,” Mr. Ban said, adding: “His past experience as Prime Minister of Portugal, his extensive knowledge of world affairs and his keen intelligence will serve him to lead the United Nations at a crucial period.”

Under procedures for appointing the world body’s new chief, after the recommendation is transmitted from the Council to the Assembly, a draft resolution is issued for the Assembly to take action. After appropriate consultations with Member States, the Assembly President fixes a date for the draft to be taken up.

The last five Secretaries-General were appointed by the Assembly through a resolution adopted by consensus. A vote will take place only if a Member State requests it and a simple majority of those voting would be required for the Assembly to adopt the resolution. But the Assembly could decide that the decision requires a two-thirds majority. If a vote is taken, it will be by secret ballot.

UN Security Council President, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, speaks to reporters regarding questions about what convinced the Council to rally behind Mr. Guterres. Credit: UN News Centre

The UN Charter, signed in 1945 as the foundation of the Organization, says relatively little about how a Secretary-General is to be selected, aside from Article 97, which notes that the candidate “shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council.” At its first session in 1946, the General Assembly was much more active in the selection process. It created resolution A/RES/1/11 determining that the Council take the lead in the selection process, agree on a single name in a private meeting, and pass that name down to the General Assembly for a vote.

Yesterday, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia, which holds the Security Council presidency for the month, informed the President of the Assembly, Peter Thomson, that after the sixth informal “straw poll” for the position of Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres had emerged as the clear favourite.

In addition to Mr. Guterres, 12 other candidates were in the running to succeed the current UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who leaves office at the end of the year.

Guterres recommended as next UN Secretary-General Former Prime Minister of Portugal, António Guterres, pictured here in 2014 as head of the United Nations refugee agency while briefing the press on an urgent appeal to aid African refugees, has been selected as the nominee of the UN Security Council to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. Antonio Guterres meets with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon The nominee of the United Nations Security Council, Antonio Guterres, pictured here last year while serving as High Commissioner of the UN refugee agency, together with the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Antonio Guterres appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan During the Secretary-General's press conferences in 2005, Kofi Annan, at the time chief administrative officer of the Organization, introduces the then newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres to the press. “Leadership Challenges in a World in Turmoil” Antonio Guterres, pictured here in 2015 during the Sergio Vieira de Mello debate, hosted by the United Nations Office at Geneva, discusses the theme “Leadership Challenges in a World in Turmoil” with Christiane Amanpour (left), Chief International Correspondent of CNN and Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein (centre), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré. Meeting with the head of the UN food relief agency After issueing a meeting with the Executive Director Ertharin Cousin of the UN World Food Programme, the High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres briefs journalist on both agencies joint appeal for US$186 million to ensure full food rations to refugees in Africa through the end of 2014.UN Photo/ Jean-Marc Ferré Antonio Guterres, pictured here during a meeting with the press, after a informal briefing with United Nations Member States in April 2016 where he expressed his views for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General after he was nominated for the position by Portugal. ‹ ›

Today’s decision by the Security Council brings the UN closer towards the culmination of an historic process: the selection of a new United Nations Secretary-General, traditionally decided behind closed-doors by a few powerful countries, has for the first time in history, involved public discussions with each candidate campaigning for the world’s top diplomatic post. These so-called ‘informal briefings’ between the candidates, UN Member States and civil society representatives kicked off on 12 April, when the first three candidates presented their ‘vision statements’ and answered questions on how they would promote sustainable development, improve efforts to create peace, protect human rights, and deal with huge humanitarian catastrophes should they be selected to lead the Organization.

In addition, this past July, the UN held its first-ever globally televised and webcast townhall-style debate in the General Assembly Hall, where the confirmed candidates at the time took questions from diplomats and the public at large.