The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially presented the candidacy of Dr. María Neira to lead the World Health Organization (WHO), after the deadline to opt to succeed the current director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ended this Thursday. The news has been reported by the specialized media 'Health Policy Watch', which highlights that Neira's candidacy presents an approach focused on primary prevention and health risks linked to climate change. Prior to Neira's nomination, a coalition of more than 100 civil society groups had called on the Spanish government to support her candidacy, arguing that her technical expertise is critical to addressing extreme heat waves and environmental health risks in vulnerable communities. The coalition had been promoted by Nobel Peace Prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel and Dr. Carlos Ferreyra, from Climate, Life and Health International. In this way, Neira becomes the fifth candidate to lead the WHO, along with Dr. Hans Kluge, from Belgium; Dr. Hanan Balkhy, from Saudi Arabia; Dr. Hanan Al-Kuwari, from Qatar, and Dr. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, from Indonesia. Graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Oviedo and with a master's degree in Public Health from the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris (France), she specialized in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the René Descartes University and, later, in Nutrition at the Conservatoire National d'Arts et Métiers, also in Paris. In her career, her work as director of the Department of Public Health and Environment of the World Health Organization (WHO) stands out, a position she held for two decades. After the closing of the nomination period this Thursday, candidates will appear before Member States at the first live candidate forum, which will take place in November. Then, in early 2027, the WHO Executive Board will select a shortlist of up to three finalists, before the World Health Assembly casts the decisive vote in May.