The race to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is reaching a decisive stage. Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan has received the most support in the latest informal Security Council vote, though the outcome remains uncertain. The final decision rests with the Council’s five permanent members, who each hold veto power.
Grynspan receives most votes again
In the fourth informal vote by the UN Security Council, Rebeca Grynspan secured 10 “recommend” votes, three “do not recommend”, and two abstentions. This put her at the top among the 15 Council members once more.
Former Guyanese foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett came in second with eight backing votes. Rafael Grossi of Argentina, currently head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, placed third.
Grynspan has now led three out of four informal voting rounds. However, her lead does not yet guarantee her appointment as the next UN Secretary-General.
Major powers could still decide the result
This is where the process becomes complicated. To be recommended as Secretary-General, a candidate must secure at least nine out of 15 Security Council votes and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members.
The United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom each have veto power. Their stance could determine the outcome, even for candidates who receive strong support in informal voting.
The informal votes are used primarily to gauge support for each candidate. Only afterwards does the Security Council make an official recommendation to the UN General Assembly.
Seven candidates still in the running
Following the withdrawal of former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, seven candidates remain. These include Grynspan, Rodrigues-Birkett, and Grossi, as well as former Senegalese president Macky Sall, Ecuadorian diplomat María Fernanda Espinosa, Ivonne Baki from Ecuador, and Ugandan candidate Olara Otunnu.
The official candidate list is maintained by the United Nations itself. Grynspan was nominated by Costa Rica in March 2026, Grossi by Argentina, and Rodrigues-Birkett by Guyana.
Aktualizovane.sk has previously covered the role of the UN and its Secretary-General, especially in the context of international conflicts. Guterres warned of the rising number of humanitarian crises worldwide.
UN could see its first female Secretary-General
This year’s selection process also carries historical significance: of the remaining candidates, four are women and three are men.
If a woman is appointed, she would become the first female Secretary-General in the history of the United Nations. Some member states have also voiced the need for greater female representation in the UN’s top position.
Grynspan brings extensive experience in international organizations. She currently heads the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and previously served as Costa Rica’s vice president.
Voting process remains secretive
The Security Council’s informal ballots are held behind closed doors. For each candidate, members choose from three options: recommend, do not recommend, or abstain.
Ballots are destroyed after counting to preserve anonymity. However, results often reach the public through diplomatic sources. In early voting rounds, it is generally not known how the permanent members cast their votes.
There is still no guaranteed winner in the current race. While the informal vote results highlight each candidate’s level of support, the decisive moment will come when a candidate is formally recommended to the General Assembly.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
