World News
UN chief did not single out Francesca Albanese as 'out of control,' fact check shows
Advocacy claims that António Guterres targeted the Special Rapporteur on Palestine misrepresented a general comment about independent rapporteurs.
The short version
- Advocacy group UN Watch circulated claims that UN Secretary-General António Guterres described Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese as 'out of control.'
- Guterres's actual remarks to the Financial Times referred broadly to 'many' independent rapporteurs operating outside Secretariat control, without naming Albanese.
- A UN spokesperson confirmed that framing the remarks as specifically targeting rapporteurs on Israel was a misreading.
- Separate claims regarding private disparaging remarks by Guterres about Albanese remain unverified.
Key facts
- UN Watch claimed that UN Secretary-General António Guterres admitted to institutional bias and specifically called UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese 'out of control' during an interview with the Financial Times.[France 24]
- In the interview, Guterres rejected the claim of institutional bias against Israel, stating that 'many' independent rapporteurs are 'totally out of control' from the Secretariat's perspective, but he did not name Albanese or any specific individual.[France 24]
- UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated that linking Guterres's comments specifically to rapporteurs focused on Israel was a misreading, reaffirming the mandate and independence of UN rapporteurs.[France 24]
- Albanese responded by defending the mandate of independent rapporteurs, stating that challenging the status quo is central to their role.[France 24]
What remains uncertain
- Allegations that Guterres privately called Albanese a 'horrible woman' at the 2024 Munich Security Conference stem from claims by former US envoy Deborah Lipstadt and cannot be independently verified.[France 24]