Former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan is currently leading the race to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to the latest informal straw poll conducted by the UN Security Council.
In the fourth secret poll of the 15-member Security Council, Grynspan received 10 “encourage” votes, while three members voted “discourage” and two expressed “no opinion.” Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett received eight “encourage” votes, six “discourage” and one “no opinion,” while Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also received eight “encourage” votes and seven “discourage.”
Grynspan had also led the first and third straw polls, while Rodrigues-Birkett topped the second round. The process is expected to continue with additional rounds before the Security Council reaches a consensus. The latest poll remains non-binding and does not determine the final outcome.
The field has narrowed to seven candidates following the withdrawal of former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet earlier this month. Among the leading names are Grynspan, Rodrigues-Birkett and Grossi, although additional candidates could still enter the race.
If selected, Grynspan would become the first woman to serve as UN Secretary-General in the organization’s more than 80-year history. No woman has held the position since the UN was founded.
Current Secretary-General António Guterres is due to leave office at the end of 2026 after serving two five-year terms. His successor will take office amid multiple international conflicts and crises, reduced US contributions to the United Nations and continuing debates over the organization’s political role and effectiveness.
The selection process is particularly complex because the candidate must ultimately secure the support of the five permanent members of the Security Council — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — each of which has veto power.
Once the Security Council agrees on a candidate and formally recommends them, the decision goes to the 193-member UN General Assembly for appointment. The Security Council’s recommendation has historically been approved by the General Assembly.
During the informal straw polls, Security Council members do not directly vote to elect the Secretary-General. Instead, they indicate whether they “encourage,” “discourage” or have “no opinion” on each candidate. The polls are confidential and non-binding.
Grynspan was formally nominated by Costa Rica. The UN’s official selection process lists her among the candidates who have participated in the process, alongside Rodrigues-Birkett, Grossi and others.
When Guterres was selected in 2016, the Security Council conducted six straw polls before reaching an agreement. The latest results therefore do not mean that the race has been decided.
Further rounds are expected in the coming weeks as the candidates seek to build sufficient support among the Security Council’s permanent and elected members and ultimately secure a consensus on Guterres’s successor.
