UN Secretary‑General Race: Sixth Informal Vote Reveals Progress

An informal but decisive straw poll took place on 17 October inside the United Nations Security Council, marking the sixth round of voting to determine the level of support for the seven remaining candidates for Secretary‑General. Greece’s permanent representative Aglaia Balta confirmed that the ballot has been closed and that the tallies will be passed on to the candidate states through their permanent representatives at the UN.

The purpose of the straw poll is to signal which aspirant has the greatest chance of securing the Council’s endorsement. Every member marks "support", "oppose" or "no opinion" against each name. A minimum of nine support votes is required, and any veto by the five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom or France – would block a candidate’s path forward.

The seven hopefuls are: Ecuadorian former minister Ivón E‑Baki, former UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa, Argentine nuclear expert Rafael Grossi, Costa Rican diplomat Rebecca Grinspun, Ugandan former Under‑Secretary‑General Olara Otunnu, Guyanese ambassador Caroline Rodrigues‑Birkett, and Senegal’s former president Macky Sall.

Secretary‑General António Guterres will leave office at the close of 2024, and the new chief is expected to start on 1 January 2027. The results of this sixth poll will help the Council shape its final recommendation to the General Assembly.