1998 United Nations Security Council election
The 1998 United Nations Security Council election was held on 8 October 1998 at United Nations Headquarters in New York City during the 53rd session of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly elected five non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for two-year terms commencing on 1 January 1999. The five candidates elected were Argentina, Canada, Malaysia, Namibia (for the first time), and the Netherlands. Geographic distribution. In accordance with the General Assembly's rules for the geographic distribution of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, and established  practice, the members were to be elected as follows: one from Africa, one from Asia, one from Latin American and the Caribbean Group (GRULAC), and two from the Western European and Others Group (WEOG). Candidates. There was a total of six candidates for the five seats. In the African, Asian, and Latin American and Caribbean Groups, there was one candidate per group: Namibia, Malaysia, and Argentina, respectively. In the Western European and Others Group, the three candidates for the two seats were Canada, Greece, and the Netherlands. Results. Voting proceeded by secret ballot. For each geographic group, each member state  could vote for as many candidates as were to be elected. There were 176 ballots in each of the three elections. Group C — Western European and Others Group (two to be elected). With Greece losing to Canada and the Netherlands, whom both acquired the requisite 2/3 majority, the final result was as follows: Argentina, Canada, Malaysia, Namibia, and the Netherlands were elected to the Security Council for two-year terms commencing 1 January 1999.