Security Council holds second secret straw poll for next UN chief

The United Nations Security Council conducted its second secret straw poll on Friday to assess potential candidates for the position of secretary general, a role currently held by Antonio Guterres. This informal vote took place amid a competitive race involving eight contenders vying for the prestigious post. The 15-member council aims to determine which candidates have broad support before making a formal recommendation to the General Assembly, which ultimately selects the new leader under the UN Charter. The straw poll, held in an informal setting, allowed council members to mark their stance toward each candidate using three categories: "encouraged," "discouraged," or "no opinion expressed." Similar to the previous vote on July 30, the ballots cast by the five permanent members, Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States, will remain indistinguishable from those submitted by the 10 elected members. No official records are maintained, and all ballots are destroyed immediately after the vote. Latvia and Russia were designated as tellers for this round of voting. According to a diplomatic source, Guyana's Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett emerged as the leading candidate, receiving eight "encourage" votes. This placed her ahead of Costa Rica's Rebeca Grynspan, who had previously been considered a frontrunner, and Argentina's Rafael Grossi, both of whom received seven "encourage" votes. In contrast, Ecuador's newly entered candidate, Ivonne Baki, garnered zero "encourage" votes and eight "discourage" votes, signaling initial resistance to her candidacy. Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, remarked earlier in the week that if none of the current candidates gain sufficient support, the council might consider additional candidates. This statement reflects the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the selection process, particularly given the diverse backgrounds and regional representation of the eight candidates. The field of candidates expanded to include eight individuals following Tonga's nomination of Ecuadorian diplomat Ivonne Baki on August 17. Other notable candidates include Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, Olara Otunnu of Uganda, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall. Each of these individuals has engaged in discussions with both the General Assembly and the Security Council, indicating their active participation in the selection process. To progress further, a candidate must secure at least nine votes from the Security Council and avoid opposition from any of the five permanent members. The influence of these powerful nations often complicates the selection due to their divergent priorities and interests. Once a candidate meets these criteria, the Security Council formally recommends them to the General Assembly, where the entire UN membership confirms the appointment. The practice of conducting informal straw polls dates back to the 1980s and has been a part of the selection process for decades. However, some UN member states have criticized this method for its secrecy and lack of transparency. Daniel Forti, head of UN affairs at the International Crisis Group, noted that these polls serve to alleviate gridlock among the P5 members during negotiations. They also provide insight into the views of the 10 elected members, whose support is crucial for a candidate to achieve the necessary nine votes. Forti emphasized that the permanent members cannot recommend a secretary general candidate to the General Assembly without some backing from the elected members.