World · Europe · 50 mins ago
Grynspan leads sixth vote for next UN secretary-general
The UN Security Council held its sixth vote to choose the next secretary-general, who will lead the United Nations.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan remained narrowly in front, with nine encouraging votes and five discouraging votes, including opposition from two permanent members.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi and Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett each received eight encouraging and six discouraging votes, also facing opposition from two permanent members.
The colour-coded ballots showed which votes came from the five permanent members—Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States—and which came from the 10 elected members.
The close results leave the race without clear agreement among the most powerful members, while none of the seven candidates has withdrawn and no new candidate has entered.
A new contender could still join, but the selection could become more complicated, and the Council has not yet reached a decision.
The Council hopes to finish before the end of the year, though the sources do not give a date for its next vote.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan remained the leading candidate in the sixth vote to choose the next UN secretary-general.
All seven candidates received at least two discouraging votes from permanent members of the Security Council, which have veto power.
The vote used colour-coded ballots for the first time, making permanent members’ votes distinguishable.
The results left open the possibility of new candidates entering the race.
The United States said it wanted a secretary-general focused on peace and security and did not rule out supporting an announced candidate.
- Who
- The UN Security Council voted among seven candidates, with Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica leading.
- What
- The Council held its sixth informal vote to select the next UN secretary-general.
- When
- Friday, October 16, 2026.
- Where
- The United Nations in New York.
- Why
- The Council is selecting a successor to António Guterres, whose term ends on December 31, 2026.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Security Council held five earlier straw polls, without ballots distinguishing permanent members’ votes.
The Council held its sixth poll, using colour-coded ballots for the first time.
Diplomats said the next straw poll would be held.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz said he was confident the selection would be completed.
- Leading candidate
- Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica
- Grynspan’s support
- 9 encouraging votes
- Second-place candidates
- Rafael Grossi of Argentina and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, each with 8 encouraging votes
- Permanent members
- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States
- Candidates in the poll
- 7
- Guterres’s term ends
- December 31, 2026
4 sources
What people are saying
strong, energetic leadership
We think that this institution needs strong, energetic leadership that is going to take the United Nations back to basics
It seems to be a split decision with no P5 convergence. It means there is a path open for new entrants
It could get messy
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Just came from voting on the next Secretary General of the United Nations. President Trump needs a partner who will help drive reform and broker peace deals.