UN Security Council to hold seventh straw poll for next secretary general

The United Nations Security Council is set to conduct its seventh straw poll on Friday, as the contest for the position of the next secretary general intensifies. This informal and anonymous ballot sheds light on the council members' perspectives on each of the candidates. In the previous round, participants utilized color-coded ballots to differentiate between votes from the five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States - and the ten elected members.

Antonio Guterres, the current secretary general, is scheduled to resign at the end of the year. Following Guterres' tenure, eight individuals have been nominated for the role: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana, Rafael Grossi from Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan from Costa Rica, Macky Sall from Senegal, Ivonne Baki from Ecuador, Michelle Bachelet from Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa from Ecuador, and Olara Otunnu from Uganda.

UAE's Lana Nusseibeh recently entered the race after failing to secure a consensus in the earlier polls. While Grynspan previously led in the majority of straw polls, her triumph is not guaranteed. The selection of the next secretary general holds particular importance this year, as the UN has never been presided over by a woman in its 81-year history.

Moreover, several women have entered the race for the position. The secretary general assumes a significant role, serving as the chief administrative officer and representative of the UN. In addition to managing general budgeting and planning, the secretary general acts as a diplomat tasked with facilitating peace and ensuring global security.

The chosen individual will face the monumental challenge of attempting to quell the ongoing conflicts worldwide, encompassing the Iran war, Sudan conflict, Russia-Ukraine war, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.