8 Candidates Vie For UN Chief
Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leads the second informal straw poll, followed by Rebeca Grynspan and Rafael Mariano Grossi, as they compete to succeed Antonio Guterres
Eight candidates are running to succeed Antonio Guterres as UN chief, with Guyanese ex-foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett leading the second informal straw poll. She was closely followed by Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, who had led the field after the first round of balloting in July, and Argentina's Rafael Mariano Grossi, the current head of the UN nuclear watchdog.
The candidates running to succeed Antonio Guterres are: Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Olara Otunnu, Macky Sall, Ivonne A-Baki, and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett.
In the second informal straw poll, Rodrigues-Birkett received eight ‘encourage’ votes, three ‘discourage’ votes and four members offering no opinion. Grynspan and Grossi each collected seven ‘encourage’ votes, with Grossi receiving six ‘discourage’ votes, compared with Grynspan’s four.
A candidate needs at least nine votes in a formal UNSC vote to advance, and any of the five permanent members (the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom) can veto a nominee.
## Why it matters The selection of the next UN chief comes amidst deep divisions within the organization. The United Nations Security Council, the most powerful body of the UN, is tasked with choosing the future UN chief before submitting the name for approval by the General Assembly. The current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been in the position since 2017, but his second five-year term ends on December 31, 2026.
## What happens next The secret straw polls are intended to gauge support among the council’s 15 members and gradually narrow the field before a formal recommendation goes to the General Assembly. While there is no formal limit on the number of terms a secretary-general can serve, no one has served more than two.
The candidates will continue to vie for the position, with the next steps in the selection process expected to be closely watched by the international community. The selection of the next UN chief will have significant implications for the organization and its role in global affairs.
