United nations: The United Nations Security Council recently held its second informal straw poll to assess the standing of candidates aiming to replace Antonio Guterres as Secretary-General when his term concludes at the end of the year. Eight contenders are currently in the race, amid significant internal divisions within the organization.
According to France24.com, Guyanese former foreign minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett emerged as the narrow leader in the second round of voting. Earlier, Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan was the frontrunner in the first informal vote conducted by the 15-member Security Council, which was held behind closed doors and by secret ballot. Grynspan has since slipped to second place, while Argentina's Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, moved into third position, as reported by diplomatic sources and the specialist publication Pass Blue.
Among the other candidates are Chile's Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador's Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Uganda's Olara Otunnu, and Senegal's Macky Sall. Ecuador's Ivonne A-Baki joined the race after the first round concluded. The selection process for the future UN chief requires a candidate to secure at least nine votes from the Security Council without facing a veto from any of the five permanent members.
Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica's former vice president, currently leads the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). She is known for brokering the Black Sea Grain Initiative between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022. Despite her diplomatic achievements, Grynspan has expressed concerns about the UN's risk-averse nature.
Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile and ex-UN rights chief, has emphasized the need for a UN secretary-general with a strong moral voice. Her candidacy is supported by Mexico and Brazil, though Chile withdrew its backing following the election of a far-right president.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, who served as Ecuador's foreign minister and president of the UN General Assembly, advocates for UN reform and the establishment of an early warning system for conflicts. Her candidacy is endorsed by Antigua and Barbuda.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Argentine diplomat leading the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been vocal about the need for UN reform. Despite not leaving his current post, he remains active in the race for secretary-general.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, the current Guyanese ambassador to the UN, has called for the UN to restore its global credibility, emphasizing its role beyond peace and security.
Ivonne A-Baki, an Ecuadoran diplomat, is known for her role in Ecuador-Peru dialogue post-conflict and has strong connections in the Gulf region. She has pledged to uphold the UN Charter's promise of peace.
Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal and chair of the African Union, focuses on the intersection of peace and development. His candidacy is supported by Burundi and his home country.
Olara Otunnu has a history of advocating for children in conflict, having served under former UN chief Kofi Annan. He also has experience as Uganda's foreign minister and UN envoy.
As the UN Security Council continues its deliberations, the choice of the next Secretary-General remains a critical decision amid ongoing global challenges.