UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan has strengthened her position in the race to become the next United Nations Secretary-General after leading the latest informal straw poll by the UN Security Council.The September 29 poll gave Grynspan 10 “encourage” votes, three “discourage” votes and two “no opinion” responses among the 15 Security Council members. However, the final selection remains dependent on the five permanent members — the United States, China, Russia, France and the United Kingdom — which hold veto power.Key HighlightsRebeca Grynspan led the fourth UN Security Council straw pollShe received 10 “encourage” votes, three “discourage” and two “no opinion”Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Argentina’s Rafael Grossi remain among the leading candidatesThe five permanent Security Council members can veto a candidateThe UN General Assembly will formally elect the candidate recommended by the Security CouncilThe new Secretary-General is expected to take office on January 1, 2027Grynspan Maintains Lead in UN Secretary-General RaceRebeca Grynspan, a former Vice President of Costa Rica and current UNCTAD Secretary-General, has remained near the top of the Security Council's informal polls.The latest round was the fourth straw poll conducted as part of the selection process. Grynspan again received the highest number of “encourage” votes, while Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett of Guyana received eight “encourage” votes, six “discourage” votes and one “no opinion.” Rafael Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, also received eight “encourage” votes but seven “discourage” votes.The results are informal and do not constitute a formal nomination.Permanent Five Members Hold Veto PowerDespite Grynspan's lead in the informal voting, the five permanent members of the Security Council remain central to the process.The P5 — the US, China, Russia, France and the UK — have the power to block a candidate through a veto. The Security Council will eventually recommend one candidate to the 193-member UN General Assembly, which will then formally elect the next Secretary-General.The informal straw polls use secret ballots in which council members indicate whether they “encourage,” “discourage” or have “no opinion” on each candidate.Further rounds are expected before the Security Council reaches a final recommendation.Who Is Rebeca Grynspan?Grynspan has served as UNCTAD Secretary-General since September 2021 and became the first woman to lead the organisation. She is an economist and former Vice President of Costa Rica.Before joining UNCTAD, she served in several senior government and international positions, including as a United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme.Her UNCTAD tenure has included involvement in global trade, food security and economic cooperation. She also played a role in the Black Sea Initiative, which facilitated grain exports from Ukraine during the war.What Happens Next?The UN Secretary-General selection process is expected to continue with additional consultations and Security Council straw polls.Seven candidates are currently in the race following Michelle Bachelet's withdrawal. The final candidate must secure the backing of the Security Council's permanent members before being recommended to the General Assembly.The next Secretary-General will succeed António Guterres, whose second five-year term ends at the close of 2026. The new UN chief is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2027.
