Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan has emerged as the leading candidate in the latest informal poll of the 15-member United Nations Security Council for the next UN Secretary-General. In the fourth secret straw poll held on September 29, Grynspan received 10 “encourage” votes, three “discourage” votes and two members expressing no opinion.
Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, each received eight “encourage” votes. The latest poll follows three earlier rounds, with Grynspan also leading the first and third polls, while Rodrigues-Birkett topped the second. The process remains informal and does not amount to a final selection.
Seven candidates are currently in the race after former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew earlier this month. The eventual candidate must secure the backing of the five permanent Security Council members — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — before the Council formally recommends a name to the 193-member UN General Assembly. António Guterres is due to leave the post at the end of 2026.