Rebeca Grynspan Leads UN Secretary-General Race in Latest Security Council Poll

A confidential poll among the 15-member United Nations Security Council indicated that former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan is currently ahead in the competition to become the organization’s 10th secretary-general. This is the fourth such poll, following earlier votes in July and September that also gave Grynspan a slim edge, whereas an August poll had briefly put Guyana’s ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett in front.

The field narrowed after former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet exited the race, leaving seven hopefuls to replace Antonio Guterres, who will step down at the end of his second term. The five permanent Security Council members—United States, China, Russia, France and Britain—must ultimately reach consensus on a candidate before the General Assembly votes, a process that previously required six straw polls in 2016. The General Assembly’s endorsement is largely ceremonial, but it finalises the appointment.