The debate showed full consensus for the consolidation and re-application of 2015-16 gains, which firmly establishes the practice that member states should be able to nominate a candidate even when an incumbent is standing for a second term, as has been the case this year (even if no member state chose to do so).

Over two thirds of UN member states have called on the General Assembly to start consolidating the major improvements achieved in the run-up to the 2016 selection of the Secretary-General that made the process more open, transparent and inclusive and to institutionalise lessons learned.

Member States praised the historic advances in openness and transparency achieved in the process to select the new Secretary-General. They called for consolidating, institutionalising and strengthening new good practices, and to act while there is momentum.