Grynspan pulls ahead in race to lead UN

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan is leading the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General, according to informal polls held by the Security Council. Grynspan, who heads the UN trade and development body UNCTAD, has received the most endorsements in three out of four rounds of voting, although a veto from the five permanent members could still pose a challenge.

Seven candidates are competing for the position, with four women and three men. Glyn Span's rival, Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, came second with eight endorsements. The Security Council straw poll, which began in the 1980s, aims to break deadlocks caused by vetoes. The five permanent members must vote "encourage" for a candidate to continue, but they can also issue a "discourage" vote.

Other candidates include Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Macky Sall of Senegal, Ivonne A-Baki of Ecuador, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and Olara Otunnu of Uganda. Despite criticism from some countries about the process's opacity, the Security Council's informal mechanism continues. Once a candidate receives the required nine votes from the 15 available in the Security Council and avoids a veto, their name will be forwarded to the General Assembly for confirmation.