Costa Rican diplomat Grynspan leads race to become UN’s first Jewish secretary-general

Rebeca Grynspan, a Costa Rican diplomat whose family escaped the Holocaust, currently leads the United Nations conference on trade and development and is now the frontrunner to replace António Guterres as secretary-general, a role that would make her the UN’s first Jewish chief. Under an informal regional rotation system, the next leader is expected to come from Latin America, and a secret Security Council poll showed Grynspan receiving the most encouragement votes of the seven candidates.

Her nearest competitor, former Guyanese UN envoy Carolyn Rodrigues-Burkett, lagged behind, while other hopefuls such as former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet face strong opposition. At a Bloomberg-backed debate during the General Assembly, Grynspan secured a clear plurality of the attendees’ votes. If elected, she would bring a personal connection to peace, citing her parents’ refugee experience, and would continue UNCTAD’s detailed reporting on the economic impact of Israel’s occupation, including a February 2026 study estimating a $212.2 billion loss for the Palestinian economy and noting Gaza’s GDP per capita fell to $161. The election, slated for completion by October, comes as the UN grapples with significant staff cuts and questions about its relevance in global mediation.