In practice, however, the five permanent members now agree on a candidate, and their decision is rubber-stamped first by the Security Council and then by the General Assembly. Real discussions about a new Secretary General are currently being conducted in secrecy among the permanent five, adding to the frustration of other UN members, including large powers that have been seeking without success to enlarge the Security Council.
毕竟，联合国宪章规定，联合国大会根据安理会的推荐任命秘书长。最初的构思是，这两大机构将在候选人问题上达成一致。但是实际上，五个常任理事国就候选人达成一致，其决定由安理会、随后由联合国大会以橡皮图章形式通过。有关新秘书长的实质性讨论正在五大常任理事国间秘密进行，给包括寻求扩大安理会规模不成的大国在内的其他成员国平添了怨言。