Archive · 29 Jul 2026
UN Security Council Begins Straw Poll for Next Secretary-General
The United Nations Security Council is starting a process to choose the next secretary-general.
They will have a secret vote to see who the 15 members support.
Seven people from different countries are running for the job.
The current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, will finish his term at the end of the year.
The vote is the first step in a process that could take months.
The new leader will have to deal with calls to make the UN more efficient and less costly.
The UN Security Council will conduct its first straw poll to measure support for seven candidates for the next secretary-general.
The candidates are from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal, and Uganda.
The current secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, will complete his second five-year term at the end of 2024.
The straw poll is informal and non-binding, with members indicating whether they 'encourage', 'discourage', or have 'no opinion' on each candidate.
The process could take months, with several rounds of straw polls before a final selection in late September or early October.
- Who
- The United Nations Security Council and seven candidates from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal, and Uganda.
- What
- The first informal closed-door straw poll to measure support for the next UN secretary-general.
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- United Nations Security Council
- Why
- To select a successor for Antonio Guterres after his second five-year term ends.
Reform Advocates
Status Quo Supporters
UN Reform
Reform Advocates
Advocates for streamlining the UN bureaucracy and reducing duplication across agencies.
Status Quo Supporters
Supports maintaining the current structure and operations of the UN.
- Current Secretary-General
- Antonio Guterres
- Term End Date
- End of 2024
- Number of Candidates
- 7
- Countries Represented
- Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal, Uganda
- Straw Poll Date
- Thursday
- Security Council Members
- 15
- Permanent Members with Veto Power
- China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
- Expected Selection Timeline
- Late September or Early October