The U.N. Security Council aims to hold another informal straw poll on August 21 as it seeks a successor to António Guterres, who leaves at year-end. The first vote put Rebeca Grynspan narrowly ahead, with Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Rafael Grossi trailing. Denmark’s council president said multiple rounds could continue into September or October, and avoiding any P5 veto remains decisive.
UN Secretary-General Race: Denmark Targets Aug. 21 Straw Poll as Grynspan Leads
FILE PHOTO: The United Nations headquarters building is seen from inside the General Assembly hall in New York City, U.S., September 21, 2021. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/Pool/File Photo
The U.N. Security Council is aiming to hold another informal straw poll on 21 August as it continues the multistage process to select a successor to António Guterres, who will step down at year-end after two five-year terms.
Current Standings
The first informal vote last week left former Costa Rican vice-president Rebeca Grynspan narrowly in the lead among seven declared candidates. She was followed by former Guyanese foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA.
Candidates
Other declared contenders include former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian foreign minister Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former Senegalese president Macky Sall, and Ugandan diplomat Olara Otunnu. Additional candidates may still join the race.
Process And Timeline
Denmark's U.N. ambassador and Security Council president for August, Christina Markus Lassen, said she is "aiming for and hoping to schedule" the next informal poll on August 21 but cautioned a final choice remains some way off.
"That would normally happen if we're sure that the next round is close to something where we have a final candidate that we can all agree on. I'm not sure we're there yet." — Christina Markus Lassen
Early straw polls use identical ballots so members can gauge overall support without revealing which of the five permanent members (P5) — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — may oppose a candidate. At a later stage, the P5 receive color-coded ballots that show any "discourage" votes from them.
Precedent indicates multiple rounds of polling could continue over several weeks and potentially extend into late September or early October if no consensus candidate emerges. Once the Security Council recommends a nominee, it must adopt a resolution with at least nine votes in favor and no P5 vetoes. Final approval by the 193-member General Assembly is usually treated as a formality.
What To Watch
Key elements to monitor in coming weeks are shifts in support among elected council members, any sign of a P5 veto emerging, and whether a clear front-runner consolidates backing ahead of color-coded ballots.
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