Twilight of 'lame duck' FAO chief spawns speculation over successor

 ROME – As diplomats decried the FAO’s World Food Forum held in the Eternal City this month as another expensive and useless jamboree, observers are gripped by speculation over who may replace the Chinese director general of the UN agency, Qu Dongyu, who increasingly is seen as a lame duck, diplomatic sources say.

 “In an end of reign atmosphere, Qu indulges in initatives that diplomats view with utmost suspicion,” a seasoned FAO watcher said. “As has been the case since 2023, Qu convened a Wpròf Food Forum which this year had as keynote speaker President Lula of Brazil and was held in conjunction with celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the FAO on Oct. 16.”

 “It was a jamboree, a colourful spectacle wher speakers entertain vivacious, joyous and festive audiences from Third World countries and NGOs,” the veteran observer said, speaking on condition he not be named. “Diplomats view this forum as an expensive and useless series of amusements and talk shows where visitots – whose participation is in many cases paid for by FAO – enjoy themselves and have fun but without impact on the world food situation.”

 Meanwhile as has been the case since 2023, Qu downgraded the status of the Committee on World Food Security that used to convene during the week of World Food Day.

Diplomats accredited to the FAO now are concerned above all by who will replace QU when his term of office ends in 2027. Western countries that have not had a DG since the 1960s know that their candidates systematically have been outvoted in all past elections since then.

 “Qu increasingly is seen as a lame duck, the observer continued. “His constituency expected that Chinese determination, might and wealth would boost FAO standing and field programmes. If this was true at the start of his tenure there is now widespread disappointment and frustration. The mood is sombre. There also have been instances where China extended only tepid support to Qu’s initatives though he nourishes hopes of becoming Chinese Agriculture minister after 2027.”

 Proposals that Qu made last year aimed at amending the FAO Constitution and the Basic Texts of FAO, including seeking to extend his second term from four to six years, have been buried in an intractable broader initiative designed to reform FAO comprehensively, which if it ever materialises will be on the table for many years to come and provide jobs for life for a constellation of diplomats, experts and officials at FAO, the source added.

 AN absurd proposal to enlarge the size of the FAO Council was defeated with even former supporters of Qu rejecting it.

At the same Conference session, called upon to elect a new Independent ChairPerson of the Counbcil in replacement of Mr Hogeveen, a long term former deputy director general, Ms H. Semedo, a close ally of Qu, was not elected. She lost the election to the Alternate Permanent Representative of Egypt to FAO. Once again many countries that in the past voted for Qu did not support his putative candidate, diplomatic sources said.

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