Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Seven Candidates Vie to Replace Guterres as UN Chief
António Guterres is finishing his second term as the United Nations secretary-general.
He is expected to leave the job on December 31.
Seven people are competing to replace him.
They come from several countries, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal and Uganda.
The Security Council is studying the candidates through secret, informal votes.
These votes show which candidates members like or dislike, but they do not decide the winner by themselves.
The five permanent Council members can block a candidate with a veto.
After the Council recommends someone, the General Assembly, which has 193 members, formally appoints that person.
The new secretary-general is scheduled to start on January 1, 2027.
António Guterres is due to leave office on December 31 after two five-year terms.
Seven candidates from Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Senegal and Uganda remain in the race.
Rebeca Grynspan received nine “encourage” votes in the Security Council’s latest straw poll.
The Security Council must recommend a candidate before the 193-member General Assembly appoints the secretary-general.
The next UN chief is scheduled to begin a five-year term on January 1, 2027.
- Who
- Seven candidates are seeking to replace António Guterres: Rebeca Grynspan, Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Rafael Mariano Grossi, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Macky Sall, Olara Otunnu and Ivonne A-Baki.
- What
- The United Nations is selecting its next secretary-general, who will become its 10th leader.
- When
- Guterres is scheduled to step down on December 31, and the successor is scheduled to begin a five-year term on January 1, 2027.
- Where
- The selection is being conducted through the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly.
- Why
- Guterres is completing his second five-year term.
- Current secretary-general
- António Guterres
- Number of candidates
- Seven remain in the race
- Next secretary-general
- The 10th leader of the United Nations
- Term length
- Five years
- Latest reported straw poll
- Held by the Security Council on September 18
- Appointment process
- The Security Council recommends a candidate and the 193-member General Assembly formally appoints that person
- Council threshold
- At least nine votes in favour and no veto from China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom or the United States