1976 United Nations Secretary-General selection 1976 United Nations Secretary-General selection A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1976 at the end of Kurt Waldheim's first term. After a single symbolic veto from China to show its support for a Secretary-General from the Third World, Waldheim easily defeated Luis Echeverría Álvarez in the balloting. The Security Council re-selected Kurt Waldheim as Secretary General for another five-year term beginning 1 January 1977. 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. As
1961 United Nations Secretary-General selection agreed on Hammarskjöld's successor, they deadlocked on the details of the appointment. The Soviet Union wanted to name an Acting Secretary-General, who must first declare that he would take actions "in agreement" with the Under Secretaries-General. The United States maintained that the Security Council must appoint a permanent Secretary-General, and only the General Assembly could name an interim Secretary-General. The United States also insisted that the Secretary-General must have freedom of action. The main point of disagreement was over the number of Under Secretaries-General. The Soviet Union originally insisted on three Assistants with provision for compulsory consultation, while the United