Greenspan Leads UN Security Council Vote for New Secretary-General

Former Vice President of Costa Rica Rebecca Greenspan has emerged as the frontrunner in the race for the position of United Nations Secretary-General after topping the straw poll for the fourth time.

Four women and three men are competing to succeed António Guterres, whose second five-year term ends on December 31, 2026.

The selection process is shrouded in uncertainty, as any use of the veto power by one of the five permanent members of the 15-member Security Council could derail any potential candidacy.

The Security Council held a "straw poll" round on Wednesday, giving each candidate an assessment from three options: "encourage," "discourage," or "no opinion."

According to diplomatic sources, Greenspan took the lead with nine "encourage" votes, marking the fourth time she has topped the poll out of five rounds held since July.

However, her performance was weaker compared to the previous vote held on September 29, when she received ten "encourage" votes, two "no opinion" votes, and three "discourage" votes.

What about the other candidates?

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Argentine Rafael Grossi, came second in this round of the straw poll, while former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett ranked third.

If a candidate secures support from nine of the 15 member states of the Security Council, they must avoid a veto from any of the five major powers, who are deeply divided given the current international situation.

Overcoming this obstacle allows the candidate's name to be referred to the General Assembly, which includes all UN member states, for ratification.