UN Security Council Holds Second Poll to Select Next Secretary-General

The United Nations Security Council is set to conduct a second informal straw poll to assess support for candidates seeking to become the organisation’s next Secretary-General.

The 15-member council, including the five permanent members with veto power, will conduct the secret ballot on Friday as the race to succeed incumbent Secretary-General António Guterres gathers momentum.

Guterres is due to complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026.

Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the early front-runner after the first informal poll held last month. However, several other candidates remain in contention, including Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu and Senegal’s Macky Sall.

Ecuador’s Ivonne A-Baki joined the contest after the first round, further widening the field.

Analysts expect the second poll to provide a clearer indication of the direction of the race, although no candidate is expected to secure a decisive advantage at this stage.

International Crisis Group analyst Daniel Forti said diplomats would be watching closely to determine whether the early front-runners consolidate their support or lose ground.

He also noted that the five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — could delay revealing their preferences until later stages of the process.

Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, similarly suggested that additional candidates could emerge if the current field reaches an impasse.

Under the Security Council’s selection process, a candidate must secure at least nine votes from the 15-member body while avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members.

The successful candidate will then be recommended to the UN General Assembly, which must formally confirm the appointment.

The straw-poll system was introduced in the 1980s to help resolve disagreements over candidates and has continued despite criticism over the secrecy surrounding the process.

During each poll, council members anonymously classify candidates as “encourage,” “discourage” or “no opinion.” Candidates who receive little support may withdraw, although they are not required to do so.

The selection process could take several rounds, with the ballots eventually distinguishing between votes from permanent and elected council members, allowing potential vetoes to be identified without revealing the country responsible.

Traditionally, the UN Secretary-General position rotates among regions. Based on that convention, the next Secretary-General is expected to come from Latin America, although candidates from Africa are also in the race.