Archive · 31 Jul 2026
UNCTAD Head Grynspan Leads UN Secretary-General Election Poll
The United Nations Security Council held a quick, informal vote to see who people want as the next UN boss.
Rebecca Grynspan, who runs a UN trade group, got the most support.
A former Guyana foreign minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, came in second.
Other people in the race include a nuclear agency head and a former human rights chief.
The poll helps the council pick a candidate to send to the big UN meeting, where the final decision is made.
The vote will keep going until everyone agrees on a choice, especially the five big countries that can block a pick.
This is the first step in choosing the next UN secretary-general.
Rebecca Grynspan tops the first UN Security Council straw poll for secretary-general.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett is second with nine positive votes.
Other candidates include Rafael Grossi, Michelle Bachelet, and Maria Fernanda Espinosa.
The poll is informal and conducted by the 15-member Security Council to gauge support.
The process continues until a candidate gains consensus of the five permanent members.
- Who
- Rebecca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, and other candidates
- What
- Informal Security Council straw poll for UN secretary-general
- When
- Thursday, 2024
- Where
- United Nations Security Council
- Why
- To gauge support and recommend a candidate to the General Assembly
- Candidate
- Rebecca Grynspan
- Positive Votes
- 10
- Negative Votes
- 1
- Neutral Votes
- 4
- Runner-up
- Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
- Positive Votes
- 9
- Negative Votes
- 2
- Neutral Votes
- 4
- Poll Type
- Informal Security Council straw poll
- Body
- United Nations Security Council
- Process
- Recommendation to General Assembly