GA/11308

General Assembly Elects 18 Members of Economic and Social Council

8 November 2012
General AssemblyGA/11308
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Sixty-seventh General Assembly

General Assembly Plenary

33rd Meeting (AM)


General Assembly Elects 18 Members of Economic and Social Council


The General Assembly today elected 18 members of the Economic and Social Council to serve three-year terms beginning 1 January 2013.


Those elected today were:   Albania, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Haiti, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, San Marino, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan and the United States.


The 18 outgoing members were:   Argentina, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Canada, Chile, Comoros, Egypt, Ghana, Iraq, Italy, Mongolia, Netherlands, Philippines, Rwanda, Slovakia, Ukraine, United States and Zambia.


The new members were elected according to the following pattern:  five from African States, four from Asia‑Pacific States, two from Eastern European States, three from Latin American and Caribbean States and four from Western European and other States.


Ahead of that action, the Assembly, in a by‑election for the Western European and other States, decided that:  Australia would relinquish its seat on the Council at the end of the year 2012 for the remaining term, in favour of New Zealand; that Germany would relinquish its seat on the Council in favour of Austria; that Finland would relinquish its seat on the Council in favour of Denmark; and that Switzerland would relinquish its seat on the Council, also at the end of the year 2012 for the remaining term, in favour of Sweden.  The terms of office for Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden would begin on 1 January 2013 and end on 31 December 2013, while the term of office of Austria would begin on 1 January 2013 and end on 31 December 2014.


As of 1 January 2013, the remaining States making up the 54‑member body will be:  Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.  


The General Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday, 12 November to hold various elections and appointments, including to the Human Rights Council.


Voting Results for By‑Election


Western European and other States

Number of ballot papers:

191

Number of invalid ballots:

1

Number of valid ballots:

190

Abstentions:

3

Number of Members present and voting:

187

Required majority:

125


Number of votes obtained by country:

Austria

132

New Zealand

132

Denmark

130

Sweden

129

San Marino

55

Netherlands

50

Canada

49

United States

49


Having obtained the required majority, Austria, Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden were elected members of the Economic and Social Council for a term of office beginning on 1 January 2013 and ending on 31 December 2013 for Denmark, New Zealand and Sweden, and 31 December 2014 for Austria.


Voting Results for General Elections


African States (5 Seats)

Number of ballot papers:

192

Number of invalid ballots:

0

Number of valid ballots:

192

Abstentions:

0

Number of Members present and voting:

192

Required majority:

128


Number of votes obtained by country:

Benin

190

Mauritius

189

Tunisia

186

South Africa

183

Sudan

176


Asia -Pacific States (4 Seats)


Number of ballot papers:

192

Number of invalid ballots:

0

Number of valid ballots:

192

Abstentions:

0

Number of Members present and voting:

192

Required majority:

128


Number of votes obtained by country:

Kuwait

180

Kyrgyzstan

164

Turkmenistan

140

Nepal

131

Saudi Arabia

128

Bahrain

1

Cambodia

1


Eastern European States (2 Seats)

Number of ballot papers:

192

Number of invalid ballots:

1

Number of valid ballots:

191

Abstentions:

1

Number of Members present and voting:

190

Required majority:

127


Number of votes obtained by country:

Croatia

185

Albania

184


Latin American and Caribbean States (3 Seats)

Number of ballot papers:

192

Number of invalid ballots:

1

Number of valid ballots:

191

Abstentions:

0

Number of Members present and voting:

191

Required majority:

128


Number of votes obtained by country:

Bolivia

186

Colombia

186

Haiti

186


Western European and other States (4 Seats)

Number of ballot papers:

192

Number of invalid ballots:

0

Number of valid ballots:

192

Abstentions:

3

Number of Members present and voting:

189

Required majority:

126


Number of votes obtained by country:

San Marino

184

Netherlands

179

Canada

174

United States

171

Norway

1

Andorra

1

Finland

1


Having obtained the required two thirds majority, the following 18 States were elected members of the Economic and Social Council for a three‑year term beginning on 1 January 2013:   Albania, Benin, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Haiti, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, San Marino, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan and the United States.


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For information media • not an official record
For information media. Not an official record.