Rafael Grossi remains in the running for top UN post after second straw poll
Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads second straw poll in race to succeed António Guterres as head of the United Nations; Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica came second, Argentina's Rafael Grossi retains support. Leer más
Rafael Grossi is still a contender for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations following a second informal vote by the UN Security Council. Both Grossi and Costa Rica's representative, Rebeca Grynspan, received seven "encouraging" votes each. This was one fewer than Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, representing Guyana, who led with eight "encouraging" votes.
Grynspan had topped the first poll held on July 30, while Rodrigues-Birkett received nine votes in favor, two against, and four with no opinion. Grossi's support remained stable at seven, but the number of votes against him increased, potentially hindering his chances. The confidential informal ballots aim to gauge the level of support and opposition for each candidate before the Security Council formally recommends a nominee to the General Assembly.
The nominee needs nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and cannot be vetoed by any of the five permanent members. In the latest poll, Rodrigues-Birkett received three against her and four votes of no opinion. Grynspan faced four votes against her, while Grossi encountered six votes against him, posing a challenge for the IAEA director-general.
Macky Sall from Senegal received six "encouraging" votes, Uganda's Olara Otunnu got five, Ecuador's María Fernanda Espinosa secured four, and former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet obtained two "encouraging" votes. Ecuador's Ivonne Baki, the most recent candidate to enter the race, received no "encouraging" votes and eight "discouraging" votes, casting an early shadow on her candidacy.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
