Virtually assured of securing a second five-year term as UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon formally announced his candidacy for the post.

"If supported by the member states, I would be deeply honoured to serve once more, throughout my time in office, I have sought to be a bridge-builder," he said.

With no competition, and almost guaranteed a consecutive term, would Ban Ki-moon be able to fend off criticism that he has not been outspoken enough and stand up to the big powers that back him?
 
The UN secretary general, can there ever be a perfect one?

Joining the programme are Jeremy Corbyn, a member of parliament, Labour Party; Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, the US representative for Special Political Affairs at the US Mission to the United Nations, who was also an advisor to President Clinton in negotiating the peace process in Northern Ireland; and Imran Khan, the leader of the Justice Party Pakistan, and a former prime ministerial candidate.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Tuesday, June 7, 2011.