[ad_1]
Elected by acclamation for a period of five years, António Vitorino is the new Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The former European Commissioner defeated Costa Rican Laura Thompson, Deputy Director General of the organization.
In the third round, Donald Trump's candidate, Ken Isaacs, an evangelical leader known for writing anti-Muslim remarks on social media.
Diplomatic defeat also marks the end of a tradition of nearly half a century in which the organization was still led by Americans, with the exception of the United States. a Dutchman who headed the institution in the 1960s.
The candidacy of António Vitorino was formalized by the Portuguese government last December.
Prime Minister António Costa hailed the election of António Vitorino through the social network Twitter: "Portugal continues to badume its responsibilities in the overall management of migration". In a statement, the Foreign Ministry wrote that the victory "demonstrates the utmost importance that Portugal attaches" to the issue of migration.
The United States contributes about half of the IOM budget, an organization created in the 1950s to solve the migration crisis caused by the Second World War.
The IOM counts 169 Member States, has offices in more than one
António Vitorino is to take office on 1 October, at the end of the five years of the second term of office of the current Director General of IOM, William Lacy Swing.
The former Socialist Minister arrives at the direction of IOM about a year and a half after Guterres took over the leadership of the United Nations
Source link
