Grynspan remains ahead in race to become next UN Secretary-General
World
Candidates to become the next UN Secretary-General are entering a second round of informal voting in the Security Council. Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the early frontrunner in the first straw poll on July 30, receiving 10 “encourage” votes and only one “discourage” vote.
The field also includes Rafael Grossi of Argentina, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency; former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet; former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador; Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; former UN Under-Secretary-General Olara Otunnu of Uganda; and former Senegalese President Macky Sall. Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki joined the race after the first round.
In the informal polls, the Security Council’s 15 members confidentially rate each candidate as “encourage”, “discourage” or “no opinion”. A candidate ultimately needs at least nine votes and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members — Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom.
Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group said the second round could reveal whether the early frontrunners can consolidate their positions. However, he said it was unlikely that any candidate would secure a decisive advantage at this stage.
Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres will complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026. Under the informal principle of regional rotation, the next Secretary-General is expected to come from Latin America.
In the informal polls, the Security Council’s 15 members confidentially rate each candidate as “encourage”, “discourage” or “no opinion”. A candidate ultimately needs at least nine votes and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members — Russia, the United States, China, France and the United Kingdom.
Daniel Forti of the International Crisis Group said the second round could reveal whether the early frontrunners can consolidate their positions. However, he said it was unlikely that any candidate would secure a decisive advantage at this stage.
Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres will complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026. Under the informal principle of regional rotation, the next Secretary-General is expected to come from Latin America.
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