No consensus after third straw poll in UN secretary-general race

Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica's former vice-president, narrowly led the third indicative poll of the UN Security Council on Friday in the race to select the UN's next Secretary-General, according to a diplomatic source. Grynspan, currently on leave from her role at the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, had also topped the first secret straw poll.

Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett emerged ahead in the second reckoning of the 15-member Council. The diplomat noted that several council members have expressed a desire for the UN to have its first woman leader, as outgoing Secretary-General António Guterres' term ends at the end of December. Grynspan garnered nine votes in favor, but still faced opposition, receiving five votes against and one vote of no opinion.

Rodrigues-Birkett received eight votes of encouragement, six of discouragement, and a single vote of no opinion. Other candidates in the race include Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall, Ivonne A-Baki, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Olara Otunnu. Grossi received five votes of encouragement, eight of discouragement, and two votes of no opinion.

There are rumors that a compromise candidate could be introduced into the process by the Council's five permanent members. A US State Department official emphasized that candidates must return the UN to its primary purpose of maintaining peace and security. The ballots of the Council's five permanent members will be marked with a different color to identify potential vetoes, but the specific country behind each veto will remain undisclosed.

International Crisis Group's Daniel Forti suggested that another straw poll might occur at the end of the UN's high-level week, though this has not been confirmed.