1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection straw polls, an innovation that became the standard method for selecting a Secretary-General in future open selections. Waldheim's defeat also confirmed the informal two-term limit on the office of Secretary-General, and Pérez's selection firmly established the principle of regional rotation. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Therefore, candidates for the office can be vetoed by any of the permanent members. In 1981, Kurt Waldheim of Austria was finishing up his second term as Secretary-General, despite Chinese preferences for a Secretary-General from the Third World. In the 1971
1991 United Nations Secretary-General selection by acclamation to be Secretary-General of the United Nations for a term ending on 31 December 1996. Boutros-Ghali ran unopposed in 1996 for a second term, receiving votes from 14 of the 15 members of the Security Council. However, he was vetoed by the United States due to disputes over UN peacekeeping missions and unpaid UN dues. After the other Security Council members failed to persuade the United States to change its position, the 1996 selection was thrown open to other candidates. Boutros-Ghali became the only Secretary-General to be denied a second term. 1991 United Nations Secretary-General selection A United