Trending 
The United Nations Security Council has commenced the process of selecting the organisation’s next secretary-general, holding its first informal “straw poll” to assess support for the seven candidates vying to succeed Antonio Guterres.
Guterres is due to complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026.
The candidates in the race include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana and Macky Sall of Senegal.
Although Grossi, who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, is considered the most widely recognised candidate, diplomats say there is currently no clear frontrunner in what is expected to be a lengthy selection process.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Asim Ahmad, described the first vote as an important step toward identifying the most suitable candidate for the role.
Diplomats, however, remain cautious about predicting the outcome, noting that the five permanent members of the Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom — have yet to publicly indicate their preferred candidates.
To secure the nomination, a candidate must receive at least nine votes from the 15-member Security Council while avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members. The successful nominee will then be presented to the UN General Assembly for formal approval.
The closed-door meeting on Thursday marked the first “straw poll,” an informal voting process introduced in the early 1980s to help break deadlocks during secretary-general selections.
Under the system, Council members anonymously classify each candidate as “encourage,” “discourage,” or “no opinion.” Candidates receiving little support may decide to withdraw, although they are not required to do so.
As the voting progresses, ballots cast by the permanent members will eventually be distinguished by colour, allowing diplomats to identify whether a potential veto exists without revealing which country cast it.
Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group said the straw polls would likely identify candidates lacking sufficient backing while allowing them to exit the race gracefully.
He added that no candidate was expected to establish a commanding lead in the early stages of the process.
Traditionally, the position rotates among global regions, making Latin America the expected region to produce the next secretary-general. Several of the current candidates are from the region.
Panama’s ambassador to the UN, Eloy Alfaro de Alba, said he hoped the organisation would elect its first female secretary-general from Latin America.
Ahead of the initial vote, six candidates participated in public hearings organised by the General Assembly and private sessions with the Security Council. Olara Otunnu did not take part after entering the race shortly before the selection process began.
