<p>Nearly 20 European Union countries nominated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for a second term as head of the World Health Organization, shortly before the deadline passed on Thursday.</p>.<p>WHO member states had until 1600 GMT to nominate candidates. Germany announced on Wednesday that it was proposing Tedros, who appears to be the only candidate in the running.</p>.<p>Other EU nations followed Berlin's lead and backed the Ethiopian former health and foreign minister, diplomatic sources told AFP.</p>.<p>Each country, among them Austria, France, Portugal and Spain, submitted a sealed envelope to the Geneva-based WHO.</p>.<p>The organisation will not open the envelopes before October 1. Then, a few weeks later, the list of candidates will be sent to the WHO's 194 member states, before being made public.</p>.<p>In 2017, Tedros became the first African to head the powerful UN agency.</p>.<p>The 56-year-old has been on the front line since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, making him one of the most familiar faces in the fight against the pandemic.</p>.<p>At a news conference on Wednesday, when asked by AFP to confirm he was running for a second term, Tedros declined to answer.</p>.<p>His nomination by European countries comes as a surprise, as most observers predicted that official support would come from African nations.</p>.<p>Tedros is relatively popular due to his role in steering the WHO's efforts to coordinate the tumultuous global pandemic response.</p>.<p>But his candidacy became complicated after Ethiopia allegedly withdrew its support over the conflict in his home region of Tigray.</p>.<p>Candidates for the UN health body's top slot are generally nominated by their home countries.</p>.<p>Tedros drew the ire of the Addis Ababa government by using the WHO platform to condemn the crackdown in Tigray.</p>.<p>If multiple candidates come forward, a selection process will start in January 2022 to establish a shortlist of up to five potential directors-general.</p>.<p>Member states will vote for the next head of WHO -- whose term begins in August next year -- in a secret ballot in May during the World Health Assembly, the WHO's main annual meeting of member states.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>Nearly 20 European Union countries nominated Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for a second term as head of the World Health Organization, shortly before the deadline passed on Thursday.</p>.<p>WHO member states had until 1600 GMT to nominate candidates. Germany announced on Wednesday that it was proposing Tedros, who appears to be the only candidate in the running.</p>.<p>Other EU nations followed Berlin's lead and backed the Ethiopian former health and foreign minister, diplomatic sources told AFP.</p>.<p>Each country, among them Austria, France, Portugal and Spain, submitted a sealed envelope to the Geneva-based WHO.</p>.<p>The organisation will not open the envelopes before October 1. Then, a few weeks later, the list of candidates will be sent to the WHO's 194 member states, before being made public.</p>.<p>In 2017, Tedros became the first African to head the powerful UN agency.</p>.<p>The 56-year-old has been on the front line since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, making him one of the most familiar faces in the fight against the pandemic.</p>.<p>At a news conference on Wednesday, when asked by AFP to confirm he was running for a second term, Tedros declined to answer.</p>.<p>His nomination by European countries comes as a surprise, as most observers predicted that official support would come from African nations.</p>.<p>Tedros is relatively popular due to his role in steering the WHO's efforts to coordinate the tumultuous global pandemic response.</p>.<p>But his candidacy became complicated after Ethiopia allegedly withdrew its support over the conflict in his home region of Tigray.</p>.<p>Candidates for the UN health body's top slot are generally nominated by their home countries.</p>.<p>Tedros drew the ire of the Addis Ababa government by using the WHO platform to condemn the crackdown in Tigray.</p>.<p>If multiple candidates come forward, a selection process will start in January 2022 to establish a shortlist of up to five potential directors-general.</p>.<p>Member states will vote for the next head of WHO -- whose term begins in August next year -- in a secret ballot in May during the World Health Assembly, the WHO's main annual meeting of member states.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>