"A process that began with very welcome transparency now runs the risk of becoming a laughing stock", Ramos-Horta told the Huffington Post in an interview.

The name of Kristalina Georgieva, a candidate that seems to have the support of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, was announced last week by the Bulgarian prime minister after the UN Security Council had already taken five votes, all of which were won by António Guterres.

This process "is now being torn down by back-stage manouvres that only intend to serve the interests of one or two Security Council members, regardless of the opinions of almost 20 member states", he said.

After being recommended by the Security Council, the name of the next secretary general will still have to be approved by the general assembly, where all member states have a vote, and Ramos-Horta said he believed that the assembly would not sit by passively.

The next vote, and the first in which the decisions of the five permanent members will be public, is scheduled for 5 October.