UNSC Elections for Five Non-Permanent Members Scheduled on June 17

The United Nation General Assembly has decided to conduct the Security Council elections for the five non-permanent members on June 17, 2020, as per the world body's provisional program held recently.  It was released on June 1, 2020 soon after France took over the Presidency of the 15-nation Council for the month of June.

As per the informal provision the program of work of the Security Council for this month, the SC will be held on June 17, 2020. India is a candidate for a non-permanent seat from the Asia-Pacific category for the 2021-22 terms. Its victory is given since it is the sole candidate vying for the lone seat from the grouping. New Delhi's candidature was unanimously endorsed by the 55-member Asia-Pacific grouping, including China and Pakistan, in June last year. The General Assembly last week adopted a decision to hold the Security Council elections under new voting arrangements taking into account restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From India's perspective, any change in how the voting is conducted will not impact much since it is the sole candidate from the Asia Pacific region and its term starts only in January 2021. The UNSC elections are held in the General Assembly hall with each of the 193 member states casting its vote in a secret ballot. However, large in-person meetings at the world body's headquarters stand postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic till end of June. As per the provision made for the new voting arrangement, President of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad Bande, will circulate a letter to all the Member States at least 10 working days prior to the first round of secret balloting for the elections, informing them of the date on which the elections will be held, the number of vacant seats, the venue where ballots may be cast and other logistical details.