UN Security Council Holds 2nd Straw Poll for Next Secretary-General

The UN Security Council conducted its second non-binding, secret straw poll on Friday to select the next United Nations Secretary-General. The ongoing election process aims to identify a consensus candidate to succeed the current UN chief Antonio Guterres second and final term concludes on December 31.

Denmark’s Permanent Representative to the UN and the Security Council’s president for August the Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen and confirmed the completion of the second ballot. She noted that the poll results will be communicated confidentially to the candidates through their nominating member states.

These internal straw polls are designed to gauge support among the 15 Security Council members and progressively narrow the candidate pool. To secure a formal recommendation to the UN General Assembly, a contender requires at least nine favorable votes. Crucially any of the five permanent members the US, China, France, Russia and the UK can block a candidate by exercising their veto power.

Currently eight international diplomats and political figures are officially in the running. The diverse roster includes Rebeca Grynspan (Costa Rica), Rafael Grossi (Argentina), Macky Sall (Senegal), Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett (Guyana), Maria Fernanda Espinosa (Ecuador), Michelle Bachelet (Chile), Olara Otunnu (Uganda) and Ivonne A-Baki (Ecuador).

Once the Security Council agrees on a final nominee recommendation is forwarded to the 193-member UN General Assembly for a formal appointment. Further straw polls are expected in the coming weeks as diplomats work to consolidate support behind a single leader.