Updated

Argentine President Mauricio Macri is nominating Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra as a candidate for next secretary-general of the United Nations.

Macri said in a letter to the U.N. published Friday that Argentina's government believes Malcorra is "amply" capable of filling the world body's top diplomatic post.

Malcorra is a former U.N. undersecretary-general and chief of staff to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose term ends Dec. 31. She left the U.N. in December after Macri tapped her to be foreign minister.

The secretary-general is chosen by the 193-member General Assembly on the recommendation of the 15-member Security Council.

A group of 56 nations has been lobbying for the United Nations to have its first female chief.