Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan has moved narrowly ahead in the contest to become the next United Nations secretary-general. The result came from a fourth informal Security Council poll held on Tuesday.
Grynspan received 10 “encourage” votes, three “discourage” and two “no opinion.” Guyana’s UN ambassador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, drew eight “encourage,” six “discourage” and one “no opinion.”
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director general of the UN nuclear watchdog, received eight “encourage” and seven “discourage” votes.
The secret ballot took place after world leaders gathered at the General Assembly in New York last week. Council president Jerome Bonnafont of France told reporters only that the poll had happened, without disclosing the outcome. The results emerged through diplomats and sources.
The July and September polls also put Grynspan narrowly in front. An August poll placed Rodrigues-Birkett first. In the third round on September 18, Grynspan won nine “encourage” votes and five “discourage” votes.
Grynspan, a former Costa Rican vice president, now heads the UN Conference on Trade and Development. Seven candidates remain after former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet withdrew from the race this month. More candidates could still enter.
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Antonio Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister, steps down at the end of the year after two five-year terms. His successor will inherit a demanding in-tray.
It includes several wars, cutbacks in American contributions to the UN, and the organization’s declining political relevance.
Under the process, council members say whether they “encourage,” “discourage” or have “no opinion” on each candidate. The polls are expected to continue for several more rounds. They are not binding.
Ultimately, the five permanent members with veto power (the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain) must agree on a candidate. When Guterres was chosen in 2016, it took six straw polls to reach agreement.
The UN has never had a woman secretary-general in more than 80 years, and several council members have said they would like to see that change.
One former adviser to Kofi Annan told The National that Rodrigues-Birkett faces resistance from Washington over perceived closeness to China and her positions on Gaza. No date has been set for the next poll, but the coming phase is expected to bring greater clarity.
