{
  "id": 8278564,
  "title": "UN Security Council holds third straw poll in race for next Secretary General ahead of UNGA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/un-security-council-holds-third-straw-poll-in-race-for-next-secretary-8278564",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T17:16:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/us/2026/09/18/un-security-council-holds-third-straw-poll-in-race-for-next-secretary-general-ahead-of-unga/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The UN Security Council conducted a third straw poll on Friday to assess the support for candidates aspiring to become the organization's next Secretary General, as global leaders prepare for the annual General Assembly in New York. The secret, informal vote took over an hour, and its outcomes were not disclosed immediately. France's UN ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, who presides over the Security Council this month, informed reporters about the results without revealing the exact numbers. According to diplomatic sources, Rebeca Grynspan from Panama emerged as the top vote-getter with nine \"encourage\" votes and five \"discourage\" votes. Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett from Guyana secured eight \"encourage\" votes and six \"discourage\" votes, while Argentina's Rafael Grossi garnered five \"encourage\" votes and eight \"discourage\" votes. The competition now features two leading contenders: Grynspan and Rodrigues-Birkett. However, neither has amassed sufficient council support to evade the potential veto from any of the five permanent members of the Security Council. Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, told The National that the upcoming vote will reveal whether the frontrunners can maintain their momentum or if new candidates might enter the race. Prior to the first two rounds, no clear frontrunner emerged, and eight candidates are vying to succeed Antonio Guterres, who is set to step down in December. Several council members have expressed their desire for a woman to lead the UN for the first time in its 81-year history. The candidates include former Guyanese foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi from Argentina, former Senegalese president Macky Sall, Ecuador's Ivonne Baki, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, Uganda's Olara Otunnu, and others. Diplomats have also suggested that other candidates could join the race as the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council seek consensus. A candidate must secure at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council and must not face a veto from any of the five permanent members. Once the Security Council recommends a candidate, the recommendation is forwarded to the 193-member General Assembly for final approval. The United States has not publicly endorsed any candidate and has outlined the qualities it seeks in a new Secretary General - practicality, dedication, reform-mindedness, safeguarding Member States' contributions, restoring competent management, and streamlining the organization significantly.",
  "summary": "The UN Security Council held a third straw poll on Friday to gauge support for candidates seeking to become the world body's next Secretary General, as world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the annual General Assembly . Results from the secret, informal vote were not immediately available after the process, which lasted more than an hour. \"The third round of straw polls has taken…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Iran delegation draws attention ahead of UNGA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/iran-delegation-draws-attention-ahead-of-unga",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:08:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UN Security Council holds third straw poll in race for next Secretary General ahead of UNGA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/un-security-council-holds-third-straw-poll-in-race-for-next-secretary",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:16:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}