UN Security Council holds third straw poll in race for next Secretary General ahead of UNGA

The United Nations Security Council conducted its third straw poll on Friday to assess backing for contenders aiming to succeed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is set to step down in December. The secret, informal vote, which spanned over an hour, has not disclosed its outcome. According to France's UN Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont, who presided over the Security Council for September, the results were not disclosed.

French diplomats revealed that Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica topped the third round with nine "encourage" votes, while Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Rafael Grossi of Argentina followed with eight "encourage" and six "discourage" votes, respectively, and five "encourage" and eight "discourage" votes. The competition now features two leading contenders: Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett, but neither has amassed sufficient support to circumvent a potential veto from any of the five permanent Security Council members.

Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, noted that neither frontrunner has secured enough council support to evade a P5 veto. The upcoming vote, likely after High-Level Week, will determine if they can maintain their positions or if new candidates might enter the race. Prior to the General Assembly in New York, no clear frontrunner emerged from the first two rounds, with eight candidates now vying for Guterres' position.

Several council members expressed a desire for a woman to lead the UN for the first time in its 81-year history. Candidates include former Guyanese foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Senegalese former President Macky Sall, Ecuador's Ivonne Baki, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Uganda's Olara Otunnu.

Diplomats have also suggested the possibility of additional candidates entering the fray as the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council seek consensus. A candidate must secure at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members. Subsequently, the council endorses a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for appointment.

The United States has not publicly endorsed a candidate, stating that contenders should pledge to return the UN to fundamentals, committing to necessary changes, safeguarding Member States' valuable contributions, restoring competent management, and significantly streamlining the organization.