Rebeca Grynspan pulls ahead in race to lead United Nations

Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan is leading the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general after the fourth round of informal polling, according to a diplomat. Grynspan, who heads the UN trade and development body UNCTAD, secured 10 favorable votes and three discouraging votes in Tuesday's straw poll, with two cases of no opinion.

She is ahead of Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, who received eight endorsements and six discouragements. Other candidates include Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Macky Sall of Senegal, Ivonne A-Baki of Ecuador, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, and Olara Otunnu of Uganda. While a candidate must secure nine votes to move forward, they must also avoid a veto from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who have deep divisions.

Once a candidate receives the necessary votes, their name is forwarded to the UN General Assembly for confirmation. The Security Council's straw poll was established in the 1980s to overcome deadlocks caused by vetoes and has persisted despite criticism from countries wary of the secretive process. The rotating presidency of the Security Council aims to ensure that the top UN job rotates through different regions, with Latin America expected to hold the position this time.