1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection 1981 United Nations Secretary-General selection A United Nations Secretary-General selection was held in 1981. Kurt Waldheim ran for an unprecedented third full term as Secretary-General, losing to Salim Ahmed Salim by one vote. However, the selection deadlocked through 16 rounds of voting as China vetoed Waldheim and the United States voted against Salim. The Security Council finally settled on a dark horse candidate who stayed home and did not campaign. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar was selected for a term beginning on 1 January 1982, becoming the first Secretary-General from Latin America. The deadlock was finally broken by a system of
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