Exclusive-UN chief frontrunner Rebeca Grynspan says UN has ’become too risk-averse’

UNITED NATIONS, October 15 - In an interview with Reuters, Rebeca Grynspan, the frontrunner to become the next United Nations secretary-general, criticized the UN for becoming too risk-averse. Grynspan, a 70-year-old Costa Rican economist and former vice president, urged the organization to embrace failure as part of its mission, stating that taking the cost of rejection is part of the job of a UN chief.

She called for a more proactive institution, emphasizing the need for cost cutting, reform, and job reductions. The UN, she argued, must cut jobs, curb bureaucracy, and stop agencies from duplicating work to address its shrinking resources and declining political influence. While cost cutting alone would not suffice, Grynspan emphasized the importance of refocusing and implementing reforms.

She cited her time leading the UN Conference on Trade and Development, where she reduced staff by 20% while enhancing the organization's focus. Grynspan echoed the concerns of US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, who criticized the UN for bureaucratic bloat and called for a clearer focus on peacekeeping. She highlighted her role in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative and touted it as a model for handling conflicts involving a permanent Security Council member.

Grynspan stressed the importance of peacemaking and greater emphasis on mediation and prevention, particularly given the rise in interstate conflicts. She also advocated for greater flexibility in peacekeeping, suggesting that the secretary-general should work closely with the five permanent members of the Security Council to explore alternative models when traditional peacekeeping is not feasible.

As the first female candidate in the UN's history, Grynspan is currently leading informal straw polls, securing nine votes in her favor in four out of five rounds. However, she acknowledged the possibility of facing a discouraging vote from a veto power and noted that such opposition has been overcome in past elections.