world 19 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Grynspan Leads Informal UN Chief Poll Amidst Open Race
An informal vote within the UN Security Council has placed Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan as the narrow frontrunner for the next UN Secretary-General, though the race remains highly competitive. This marks the third such poll as candidates vie to succeed Antonio Guterres. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/costa-rica-s-grynspan-narrowly-leads-informal-un-chief-poll-sources-say-5600828
The contest to become the United Nations’ 10th Secretary-General has seen former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerge as the slight frontrunner following an informal poll by the Security Council. This informal vote, the third in a series, took place ahead of the upcoming annual gathering of world leaders in New York.
Diplomats familiar with the process indicated that Grynspan garnered nine “encourage” votes, five “discourage” votes, and one “no opinion.” This narrowly placed her ahead of Guyana’s UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, who received eight “encourage” votes, six “discourage,” and one “no opinion.”
The race to succeed Antonio Guterres, who concludes his second five-year term at the end of the year, remains open with eight candidates currently vying for the position, and the possibility of more entering. Observers suggest that the lack of a decisive breakthrough for any single candidate might encourage new contenders to join the competition.
Ultimately, the agreement of the five permanent Security Council members—the United States, China, Russia, France, and Britain—is crucial. The process can be lengthy, as evidenced by the six straw polls required before Antonio Guterres was chosen in 2016. The Security Council will formally recommend a candidate to the General Assembly for election, a step typically seen as a formality.
Among other notable candidates in Friday’s poll, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu received five “encourage” and seven “discourage” votes. Argentina’s Rafael Grossi and Senegal’s former president Macky Sall also saw mixed results. Maria Fernanda Espinosa and Michelle Bachelet received fewer “encourage” votes, while Ivonne Baki received none.
With over 80 years of UN history, a female Secretary-General has never been appointed.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)