UN holds third informal poll for new chief

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council convened on Friday to conduct an informal poll assessing the appeal of candidates to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. No leading candidate emerged from the first two rounds, leaving eight contenders to vie for the position following Guterres' term in December. Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett narrowly topped the second round, while Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan and Argentina's Rafael Grossi followed in second and third place, respectively.

Other candidates include Senegal's Macky Sall, Ecuador's Ivonne A-Baki, Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Uganda's Olara Otunnu. Diplomats suggest a compromise candidate may be introduced with the backing of the five veto-wielding Council members, sparking concerns over transparency. To advance, a candidate must secure nine votes and evade a veto from any of the five major powers.

Upon achieving these criteria, their name proceeds to the UN General Assembly for confirmation. A US State Department official emphasized candidates must return the UN to its core mission of maintaining global peace and security, distancing themselves from the politicized "woke ideology" that has weakened the institution. International Crisis Group's Daniel Forti noted the situation remains unclear, with the possibility of other candidates entering the race.

Security Council members anonymously label each contender as "encourage," "discourage," or "no opinion," but the five permanent members' ballots are marked differently, enabling the identification of potential vetoes without disclosing individual blackballs. Another straw poll is expected at the close of the UN's high-level week, though this is unconfirmed.