World · Europe · 8 hrs ago
Grynspan leads latest UN secretary-general poll, but vetoes loom
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan led the latest poll to choose the next United Nations secretary-general, receiving 11 votes of support and four against.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi came second, while UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh was fourth with seven votes of support.
The poll is unofficial, and the council’s 15 members can signal whether they encourage or discourage each candidate.
Grynspan’s lead does not guarantee victory, because the winning candidate needs at least nine votes and support from all five permanent members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
An earlier poll showed that two permanent members opposed Grynspan, leaving the race deadlocked.
Nusseibeh’s candidacy has drawn criticism from human rights groups over questions about reported UAE weapons supplies to Sudan’s RSF militia; she said she could not answer questions about the UAE and promised to make seeking a ceasefire in Sudan a top priority if chosen.
The council must still reach agreement, with António Guterres due to leave the post at the end of the year.
Rebeca Grynspan led the latest unofficial UN Security Council poll to choose the next secretary-general, with 11 “encourage” votes and four “discourages.”
The result did not disclose whether any of the negative votes came from the council’s five permanent members, whose support is required for a candidate to win.
Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi came second with nine positive votes and four negative votes, while UAE diplomat Lana Nusseibeh received seven positive votes.
Nusseibeh’s candidacy has drawn criticism from human rights groups, while supporters from African and Middle Eastern countries have backed her.
The next secretary-general will replace António Guterres, whose term ends at the end of 2026.
- Who
- Rebeca Grynspan led the poll, ahead of Rafael Grossi and Lana Nusseibeh.
- What
- The UN Security Council held an unofficial straw poll as part of selecting the next secretary-general.
- When
- Friday, October 30, 2026.
- Where
- The United Nations Security Council.
- Why
- To assess council members’ views of candidates to replace António Guterres as secretary-general.
Human rights groups and critics of Lana Nusseibeh
Supporters of Lana Nusseibeh
Candidacy
Human rights groups and critics of Lana Nusseibeh
Human rights groups have criticised Nusseibeh’s candidacy and called on her to address reports that the UAE is a major weapons supplier to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces.
Supporters of Lana Nusseibeh
Nusseibeh has received increased support from many African and Middle Eastern countries; observers see her as acceptable to veto-holding members such as the United States and Russia.
In the previous straw poll, Grynspan received nine “encourage” votes and five negative votes, including two from permanent members.
Nusseibeh declared her candidacy.
Nusseibeh appeared at UN headquarters in New York City.
Nusseibeh took part in her first public question-and-answer session since declaring her candidacy.
The Security Council held its seventh straw poll, in which Grynspan received 11 “encourage” votes and four “discourages.
- Grynspan’s poll result
- 11 “encourage” votes; four “discourages
- Rafael Grossi’s poll result
- Nine positive votes; four negatives
- Lana Nusseibeh’s poll result
- Seven “encourage” votes
- Security Council membership
- 15 members, including five permanent members
- Petition against Nusseibeh’s candidacy
- More than 61,000 signatures
- Guterres’s term
- Ends at the end of 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I refer any questions about the UAE to the UAE representation
a number-one priority
The atrocities committed by the RSF are atrocious