What is the process for electing a new Director-General?
Member States may propose candidates. These candidates are considered by the Executive Board (EB), which nominates one person by secret ballot. The name of that person is then submitted to the World Health Assembly, which makes the final appointment. For this election, Member States were notified that they could propose candidates from 1 June 2006. Proposals were addressed under confidential cover to the Chairman of the Executive Board at WHO HQ, and were accepted until 5 September 2006. On 6 September, the Chairman of the Executive Board opened the envelopes and advised Member States of the names of the candidates. The Secretariat translated the proposals and curricula vitae into the six official languages of WHO and dispatched them to all Member States by 5 October 2006. The Executive Board will meet from 6 to 8 November 2006 in Geneva and will nominate a person for the post of Director-General. On 9 November 2006, the World Health Assembly will meet in Geneva for a special session.
