The UN Security Council conducted a second straw poll Friday to assess support for candidates vying to become the next secretary-general. The informal vote follows an initial round last month, in which Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan emerged as the leading contender. The 15-member council, including the five permanent members with veto power—Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States—secretly rated each candidate as "encourage," "discourage," or "no opinion." Candidates in the race include Rafael Grossi of Argentina, Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana, Olara Otunnu of Uganda and Macky Sall of Senegal. Ecuador's Ivonne A-Baki entered the race after the first poll.
The process requires a candidate to secure at least nine votes while avoiding a veto from any of the five permanent members. Although no candidate is expected to gain a decisive lead from this round, diplomats are watching for shifts in support among front-runners. The ballot format will eventually change, with permanent members' votes printed on distinctively coloured paper to reveal potential vetoes without disclosing which country cast them. The selection is guided by an informal tradition of regional rotation, which suggests the next secretary-general should come from Latin America. Once the Security Council agrees on a candidate, the nomination will go to the UN General Assembly for confirmation.
The push for a Latin American candidate rests on an unwritten rule that holds no legal force, yet shapes expectations despite no guarantee of outcome. With multiple contenders from the region and deep divisions among veto-wielding powers, the process may favour negotiation over representation. The real test comes when permanent members reveal their preferences—and whether a consensus can form without public pressure or regional compromise.
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