The UN Security Council begins the selection process for the next secretary-general with a first informal “straw poll” held behind closed doors. Multiple reports say former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan emerges as an early frontrunner, based on the preliminary support indicated in the vote. Diplomats cited by Reuters also place former Guyanese Foreign Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett among the leading candidates in the initial round. A third name mentioned in coverage is Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, who leads the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
The current UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, is expected to complete his second five-year term at the end of 2026, leaving the role open for a successor. The Security Council’s selection is expected to involve a series of straw polls over the coming months to gauge support for candidates before any formal decisions are made. The reports do not indicate that the first straw poll is binding, describing it instead as an early indicator of where candidates stand.
