UN HOLDS 4TH STRAW POLL IN RACE TO SUCCEED SECRETARY-GENERAL GUTERRES

Wed 30 September 2026:

The UN Security Council held a fourth non-binding straw poll Tuesday as the race to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres moves into its next stage.

French envoy to the UN Jerome Bonnafont, who is the term president of the Security Council for September, confirmed that the fourth round had been completed.

“The fourth round of straw polls has taken place. Each candidate will be informed of the results through the respective permanent representatives of nominating member states,” Bonnafont told reporters.

He also noted that the president of the UN General Assembly would also be informed that the poll had concluded, confirming that there were seven candidates.

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Meanwhile, multiple reports indicated that Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan headed the race to become the next UN chief.

The secret straw polls are designed to gauge support among the 15 Security Council members and potentially narrow the field before a formal recommendation is made to the General Assembly.

A candidate needs at least nine votes in the Security Council to secure the required support, while any of the five permanent members – the US, China, France, Russia and the UK – can block a candidate with a veto.

The eventual nominee must be appointed by the General Assembly, with that step generally considered a formality once the Security Council has reached agreement.

Guterres’ term ends on Dec. 31.

Eight candidates have so far been nominated: Costa Rican diplomat Rebeca Grynspan, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi of Argentina, former Senegalese President Macky Sall, Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, former UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, Ugandan politician and diplomat Olara Otunnu and Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne A-Baki.

-Source: AA

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