UN race narrows as seven candidates vie for secretary-general

What's happened

The UN Security Council’s informal straw polls have begun to shape the field for secretary-general. Rebeca Grynspan leads on encouragement votes, with other candidates including Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Rafael Grossi, Macky Sall, Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, and Olara Otunnu. The process remains flexible, with multiple rounds possible and no consensus yet.

What's behind the headline?

Insightful Analysis

• The initial straw polls show no clear consensus, keeping the door open for late entrants and potential veto dynamics.
• Grynspan leads among those encouraged, but her path depends on securing backing from permanent members (China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S.).
• The field’s diversity could shape the alliance dynamics within the Council, potentially affecting reform momentum and the UN’s strategic direction.
• Watch for how leaked behind-the-scenes conversations influence candidacies and whether a consensus candidate emerges before autumn.

How we got here

The race to succeed Antonio Guterres is underway, with seven candidates from diverse regions contending for the UN’s top post. The Security Council’s straw polls are non-binding and secret, designed to gauge support while preserving flexibility for later rounds.

Our analysis

The Times of Israel reports that the straw polls show Grynspan with 10 encouraged votes and a single discouraging vote, while Rodrigues-Birkett has nine encouraged votes as of the latest round. Al Jazeera notes Grynspan leads with 10 encouraged votes, Rodrigues-Birkett follows, and Grossi is in a distant third. All Africa covers Uganda’s Otunnu as the oldest candidate and outlines the broader reform agenda; Reuters is referenced for context on the process and potential timelines.

Go deeper

• What are the key unknowns as the field narrows?
• Which candidate is likely to secure the backing of a permanent member?
• What reforms is the next secretary-general expected to push first?

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• Rebeca Grynspan - Former Vice President of Costa Rica

  Rebeca Grynspan Mayufis is a Costa Rican economist who has been serving as Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development since 13 September 2021.

• Macky Sall - 4th President of Senegal, formerly Prime Minister

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• Michelle Bachelet - Former President of Chile

  Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Chilean politician who served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018 for the Socialist Party of Chile, the first woman to occupy the position.

• Argentina - Country in South America

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• Costa Rica - Country in Central America

  Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and Ecuador to the south of Cocos Isla

• Rafael Grossi

  Rafael Mariano Grossi is an Argentine diplomat. Since 3 December 2019, he serves as Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

• United Nations - Intergovernmental organization

  The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.

• Senegal - Country in West Africa

  Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest.

• United States - Country in North America

  The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.

• Russia - Country

  Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in

• People’s Republic of China - Country in East Asia

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• Ecuador - Country in South America

  Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west.

• Uganda - Country in East Africa

  Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East-Central Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south

• France - Country in Europe

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