Special Meeting of the Permanent Council to Receive the Presentations of the Candidates for the Post of Secretary General of the OAS

Webcast: Original (floor audio) | English | Spanish | French | Portuguese

On February 10, 2025, the candidates put forward by member states for the position of Secretary General of the OAS made presentations in a special session of the Permanent Council, in order to describe in greater detail their proposals and the initiatives they would undertake if elected. 

Presentation by candidate Albert Ramdin

Presentation by candidate Rubén Ramírez Lezcano

Notice of Convocation and Order of Business of the Special Meeting

#ElectionsSG_OAS


Background

On December 4, 2024, the Permanent Council of the OAS adopted resolution CP/RES. 1269 (2525/24), which convened a special session of the General Assembly on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, to elect the Secretary General of the OAS for the term 2025-2030. An incumbent may be reelected only once. The Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, will end his second term on May 25, 2025. 

The resolution urges member states to formally propose their candidates, in writing, to the Chair of the Permanent Council, until Monday, February 3, 2025. However, the Permanent Council established this date does not affect the right of the member states, as set forth in Articles 73 and 74 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, to submit candidates until the day of the election.

The Permanent Council also convened special meetings at the headquarters of the OAS:

February 11, 2025: dialogue between the candidates put forward by member states for the position of Secretary General of the OAS and representatives of civil society organizations duly accredited to the Organization. Such participation shall be governed by the “Guidelines for the Participation of Civil Society Organizations in OAS Activities”, adopted by Permanent Council resolution CP/RES. 759 (1217/99)

March 10, 2025: Election of the Secretary General of the OAS, at the 56th. Extraordinary Period of Sessions of the General Assembly to be held at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

There will be Webcast of all sessions (links above).


Nominations received
Nomination submitted by the Republic of Paraguay

Notes from the Permanent Mission of Paraguay and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay presenting the candidacy of Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano for the position of Secretary General of the OAS, period 2025-2030.

Resume of Chancellor Rubén Ramírez Lezcano

Candidacy submitted by the Republic of Suriname

Notes from the Permanent Mission of Suriname and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation of the Republic of Suriname, announcing the unanimous support of the CARICOM Heads of Government for the candidacy of Mr. Albert Ramdin for General Secretary of the OAS. 

Curriulum vitae

Platform

Statement from the CARICOM Group entitled “The CARICOM Conclave of Ambassadors endorses the candidacy of Minister Albert Ramdin for the position of Secretary General of the OAS.”
Member States may nominate candidates up to the day of the election.

Relevant Documents
Draft schedule for the Fifty-sixth Special Session of the General Assembly
Procedural recommendations for the Fifty-sixth Special Session of the General Assembly
Order or Precedence of the delegations of the Member States 
Order of Precedence of the Permanent Observers
Guidelines for the Presentation of Candidates for the Post of Secretary General of the OAS


Videos
Photos