World · North America · 1 hr ago
Rebeca Grynspan extends lead in race for UN secretary-general
Rebeca Grynspan strengthened her lead in the race to become the next UN secretary-general, receiving 12 positive votes in a closed-door Security Council poll on Thursday.
The former Costa Rican vice president was one of several candidates considered by the 15-member Security Council, which is choosing a successor to António Guterres.
Guterres's second five-year term ends in December, and tradition points to Latin America and the Caribbean as the next region to provide a secretary-general.
Argentina's Rafael Grossi came second with nine positive votes, while Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received eight.
The poll did not show how the five permanent council members voted, and any of them can block a candidate in the formal process.
Grynspan's three negative votes therefore leave uncertainty about support from veto powers.
The council may use colour-coded ballots in a later round to show whether opposition comes from permanent or elected members.
Rebeca Grynspan received 12 “encourage” votes in a United Nations Security Council straw poll, extending her lead in the race to become the next secretary-general.
The former Costa Rican vice president gained one “encourage” vote compared with the previous round.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi came second with nine “encourage” votes, followed by Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett with eight.
The 15-member council is seeking a successor to Antonio Guterres, whose second five-year term ends in December.
Thursday’s ballot did not disclose how the five permanent council members voted, leaving uncertainty over whether Grynspan can secure their support.
- Who
- Rebeca Grynspan, former vice president of Costa Rica, and other candidates for UN secretary-general.
- What
- Grynspan extended her lead in a closed-door Security Council straw poll.
- When
- Thursday, November 5, 2026.
- Where
- The United Nations Security Council.
- Why
- The council is working to select a successor to Antonio Guterres, whose second five-year term ends in December.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Grynspan received 11 “encourage” votes in the previous straw poll.
Turkey nominated Feridun Sinirlioglu for the race.
Grynspan received 12 “encourage” votes in the Security Council straw poll.
Sinirlioglu was scheduled to address the General Assembly.
Sinirlioglu was scheduled to hold informal talks with Security Council members.
- Grynspan’s result
- 12 encourage, 3 discourage, 0 no opinion
- Rafael Grossi’s result
- 9 encourage, 4 discourage, 2 no opinion
- Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s result
- 8 encourage, 5 discourage, 2 no opinion
- Lana Nusseibeh’s result
- 7 encourage, 6 discourage, 2 no opinion
- Security Council membership
- 15 members
- Permanent members
- France, Britain, the United States, Russia and China
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What people are saying
At the early stages of the race we promised to respect this tradition to our Latin American partners
the UN has become too risk-averse and its next leader must be prepared to bear the cost of diplomatic failure and to try again