Race to choose next UNSG moves to next phase
Eight candidates are now competing to succeed António Guterres, whose second term ends in December.
The race for the next United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) intensifies as the Security Council prepares for its second informal straw poll on Friday. Eight candidates are now vying for the position, succeeding the departing António Guterres whose second term ends in December. The field expanded following the initial straw poll in July, with the addition of Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki.
Otunnu, in his interactive dialogue, called for comprehensive reform and restoration of the UN's moral authority. He emphasized his extensive experience spanning human rights, peacekeeping, and development. Ivonne A-Baki, nominated by Tonga and joining as the eighth candidate, shared her vision centered around renewal rather than reform. She believed in rebuilding the UN's promise to promote peace, human dignity, and social progress.
The straw poll, non-binding and confidential, serves as a barometer to determine momentum and expose candidates who may struggle to garner support. So far, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan leads the pack, followed by Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Competing against them are Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and Macky Sall of Senegal.
The field is diverse, with representatives from Latin America, Africa, and the Caribbean, and includes several women in a position traditionally held by men.
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